Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
The team at Dead Cell Games released an updated video about their game, Project Grand Vault. The video shows some lock mechanics, some gameplay footage, and a young woman NPC. Enjoy!
First things first, please forgive the absence of an In Development for week 12. Unfortunately we had some crippling technical difficulties that resulted in the re-initialization of one of our main workstations.
Check them out on Twitter @DeadCellGames.
Local developer Vertex Pop were kind enough to give me a code for Graceful Explosion Machine. I've been playing it, and enjoying it quite a bit. Check out my thoughts below, and remember to subscribe!
Vertex Pop was kind enough to give me a code for Graceful Explosion Machine on Switch so I wanted to do a quick video on my thoughts - in short - I'm really digging it! There will be an actual review on www.torontogamedevs.com - so look forward to that!
Hot off the heels of releasing Super Crush KO earliest this year, Toronto developer Vertex Pop will be releasing their first game WE ARE DOOMED on the Nintendo Switch on August 13th.
Thanks to Twitter (and Instagram), we found out about a new Toronto developer - enter: Mega Power Games. The studio of one is committed to "making simple, yet fun games that reflect the older days of video gaming with a modern twist."
The first game coming out of new studio is Shift, a free to play puzzle game where you tap coloured blocks to clear them out before time expires. The game also allows the player to change the gravity in order to set up combos. The game is on Android, so make sure to check out the screenshots, and trailer below and give it a download.
It's here. Shift, the newest puzzle game for Android is out now on the Google Play store. Download now: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.MegaPowerGames.Shift ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to like and subscribe! Also check out: Website: http://megapower.games/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/megapower_games Instagram: https://instagram.com/megapower_games
As the great Bruce Buffer would say: WE ARE LIVE! DOWNLOAD SHIFT NOW! https://t.co/ZOcwUmj9Nu #gamedev #indiedev #shift #finally #nojoke
— Mega Power Games (@megapower_games) April 1, 2017
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.
Dashy Square, the endless rhythm-runner from Toronto developer Kas is officially out on iOS, Android, and Steam. The full version (2.0) now includes a level editor, which lets you create, and share levels.
Dash, jump and fly your way through epic levels with rhythm-based gameplay! Create, share and play custom levels with a wide variety of music soundtracks.
Simple one click gameplay, easy to pick up but hard to master!'
You can check out the trailer below, and download the game on iOS, Android, and Steam.
After 2 years! The full version with the Level Editor is out on iOS and Android! Play iOS ➡ https://goo.gl/W5D2mh Play Android ➡ https://goo.gl/zzk4fX Play Steam (PC) ➡ https://goo.gl/8oVFKy Thank-you so much for all the support, thank-you so much for playing! Much, much to come! Only the beginning of something truly amazing!
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.
I recently met with Alessandro Profenna, a Ryerson Unversity student pursuing a BSc in Computer Science. He will be participating in LevelUP TO this year, and we talked a bit about his work and his game, COLHEX, that he will showcase.
TGD: Thank you for meeting with me here. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Alessandro Profenna: I’m a third year student at Ryerson University pursuing a BSc in Computer Science. I’ve enjoyed math and art since I was a young child, with an initial interest in studying Architecture. After a year in the program, I discovered LevelUP online, which is what made me want to switch to Computer Science. I love art and design, and some of my favourite game series are Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy. The gameplay in these titles is flashy and beautiful. For example, the visuals of shooting a spell make it more satisfying to play.
TGD: Wow, so LevelUP inspired you to switch programs?
A.P: Yes, it definitely helped with my decision. I knew that a degree in Computer Science would give me the skills necessary to pursue game programming and design. Architecture and game development actually have a lot in common. They are very similar in the design process, keeping a strong emphasis not only on engineering and functionality, but also on aesthetics.
TGD: You have a few games that you’ve made. You already have a game available on iOS, Infinity Wheel, and you participated in LevelUP TO last year with SHATTERFALL.
A.P: Yes, I started making iOS games and learned SpriteKit. Through this I created Infinity Wheel, and released it in November 2015. In the game, your press and hold the screen to move the wheel faster and guide the ball through the obstacles.
TGD: How was your experience at LevelUP last year? Where did you get the idea for SHATTERFALL?
A.P: I came up with it in the shower (laughs). It was inspired by one of the mini games in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. SHATTERFALL is a multiplayer game where you shoot shockwaves through the floor and try to make your opponents fall. I worked on it with a friend, Dennis Plotnik. I learned Unity while making this game. It was very well received at LevelUP. The event is great because you get hundreds, if not thousands of people testing your game and giving great feedback.
TGD: What are you most excited to show about COLHEX?
A.P: There are real time aspects to this game. You’re not confined to the software of the game; your physical environment is part of it too. When you’re playing, another player’s hand can get in the way and how your hand is placed will affect your outcome. Also, I find that that seeing a quick pulse expand on screen from the tip of your finger is extremely satisfying.
TGD: You’re in third year now at Ryerson University in Computer Science. Where do you see yourself in the future?
A.P: It’s a journey finding where you want to put your energy and focus. Computer Science is a large industry, I thought about app development, about artificial intelligence. I like making games and making them look good. I would love to work in the gaming industry. For now, I plan on focusing on learning more about graphics, Unity, and C++.
TGD: Thanks again for meeting. Best of luck!
You can check out the trailer for COLHEX below.
COLHEX is an iOS arcade game that can be played on an iPhone or iPad with up to 6 players locally! Each player chooses one of 6 colours to play as. The game field is a matrix of hexagons, where the goal is claim as many hexagons with your colour in 30 seconds!
Friend of the site Jim Squires, and indie developer (and Toronto Blue Jay fan) Shane McCafferty announced this morning the creation of their new studio: Rocketship Parkl According to the press release (which you can see below), Rocketship Park will focus on creating emotional experiences "that best reflect the team's unique design philosophy."
The studio's first title, Block Droppin', will be a puzzle game about "discovery, assembly, and organization" and be released on iPhone and iPad. For more, make sure to follow them on Twitter, FaceBook, and Instagram!
Press Release follows:
St. Catharines, Canada – 29 March 2017 – After several years of successful collaborations in different mediums, games industry veterans Shane McCafferty and Jim Squires today revealed the launch of Rocketship Park, a new games development studio based in the heart of Niagara. Shane and Jim bring with them a combined 20 years of experience in the industry. Shane has previously led development on a variety of hit games including Starseed: Origin, Crobble, and Word Forward, accruing more than six million downloads across a number of projects. Jim brings a wealth of experience from his work as a consultant, journalist, public relations specialist and entrepreneur.
Rocketship Park is just one of a growing number of game development studios in the Niagara Region, joining the ranks of Phantom Compass, PixelNAUTS, Creative Bytes and Falling Squirrel as a games company that calls St. Catharines home. “Being so close to Toronto, it’s all too easy to feel like we’re in the shadow of greater things,” says co-founder Jim Squires. “But that’s nonsense. While we’re proud to be a part of Toronto’s extended gaming family, the St. Catharines / Niagara area is booming with great talent and we’re honored to stand alongside them.”
Prior to the formation of Rocketship Park, Jim and Shane have collaborated on a number of projects including the Apple-featured 2016 word game AlphaPit and the weekly mobile gaming podcast The Elephant & The Irishman. The pair first met in 2015 at Cowork Niagara, a local coworking space that served as an accidental incubator for the company, taking Shane and Jim from freelancers to founders.
Rocketship Park will be focused on the creation of emotive experiences that best reflect the team’s unique design philosophy. “When you’re creating a game, you’re also creating an emotion within the player,” says Shane. “All too often, that emotion is either an afterthought or abandoned completely in the design process. At Rocketship Park our process starts with the feeling we want to create, and that feeling informs every decision we make.”
The studio will be revealing details about their first release, Block Droppin’, in the coming weeks, and has a number of other projects in development. Block Droppin’ will be a frenzied puzzle game about discovery, assembly, and organization for the iPhone and iPad. To learn more about Rocketship Park and to stay apprised of their activities, follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and sign up for their newsletter at rocketshippark.com.
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About Rocketship Park:
Rocketship Park is a digital design studio focused on creating unique, emotive games that eschew derivative design. Founded in early 2017 by industry veterans Shane McCafferty and Jim Squires, Rocketship Park has several projects currently in development and are actively seeking the right partners to help bring these experiences to market.
Vertex Pop announced on their Twitter page today that Graceful Explosion Machine will be available on Nintendo Switch on April 6, 2017 for $12.99. Last week we posted about how this game was doing at PAX East, so it's great to have an official date!
Two years ago today the dream was born. What started as a Twitter, then became a tumblr, was then transformed into the website you see today (with most things remaining the same).
Just want to thank everyone for their constant support. We have big things planned for the future. Subscribe on Youtube, follow on Instagram, and consider becoming a Patreon - good times ahead.
Mirage: Arcane Warfare by Torn Banner Studios has announced that their Closed Beta goes live today, and if you pre-order the game, you can get access to the beta testing. There is a standard edition and a special edition: the special edition including an original game soundtrack, an HD Fan Pack, and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare Complete Edition.
Pre-order Mirage on Steam to play the Beta - on NOW! http://store.steampowered.com/app/368420 Get 10% off of all Mirage pre-orders if you own Chivalry: Medieval Warfare on Steam. Pre-orders grant Beta access for you - and a friend too! Mirage: Arcane Warfare is $29.99 USD and will release May 23, 2017.
The official release date is set for May 23, 2017. You can check out the game's Steam page here.
Capybara Games has announced that they are teaming up with Cartoon Network to create a console game based on the series "OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes." Ian Jones-Quartey created the short "Lakewood Plaza Turbo", and Cartoon Network released a mobile game (OK K.O.! Lakewood Plaza Turbo) for iOS and Android based on Jones-Quartey's shorts. Now Capybara Games will work to create a new console game.
“OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes is set in Lakewood Plaza, a mall for heroes, where K.O. and his kooky crew of friends are always working to outdo each other as they try to level up and thwart their evil foe Lord Boxman’s plot to destroy the plaza.”
Toronto-based CAPY Games continues to release updates for their matching hit 5 years after its Apple Arcade debut.
One of our favourites on iPhone, and Nintendo Switch is now heading to PC via the Epic Game Store. Grindstone, the Capybara Games hit also recently received a new Daily Grind mode and Fortune Grind on both Nintendo Switch and Apple Arcade, the Epic Game Store version is out tomorrow.
We’re a little late on this one, but Capybara’s mobile hit, Grindstone, is out now on Nintendo Switch.
Toronto-based Capybara Games (@CAPYGAMES) has released an update to their 2019 sword-slashing puzzle battle game Grindstone adding new levels, bosses, items and more.
As previously announced, Capybara’s roguelike Below has launched on PlayStation 4, while also enjoying a 10% launch discount. You can head over to the PlayStation Store right here to pick it up.
The studio co-founder is leaving after 16 years of making indie games with the Toronto-based studio.
"Rima: The Story Begins" is a modern 2D platform game developed by UP Entertainment Ltd. It consists of many supernatural characters including: Rima, a small mutant blue-green algae; Razgon, a giant dragon and the main antagonist; and Ilathen, the Goddess of Ila. Rima is tasked with restoring major elements to bring life back to the land as the land has been seized by Shadow. Check out some screenshots below.
“In this humor-filled adventure game, the player controls Rima, a small mutant blue-green algae in cyan who is on a mission to save his homeland seized by Shadow. Rima has the ability to run and jump but needs to learn a lot more as he interacts with his environment. The player helps Rima to collect new abilities, Life Plants and upgrades as he jumps from different platforms and solves various puzzles.”
“Rima: The Story Begins" will be available on the App Store and Google Play this summer, with a planned Steam, PlayStation, and Windows Store release in the Winter. If you want to keep up to date, you can follow them on Instagram @u.p.entertainment
Here's one that almost snuck by us, but the developer behind Rex Rocket will be releasing their next game, Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, later this month on Steam. The Zelda inspired game has players controlling Lily, Knight of the Rose:
Slash your way through monster-infested dungeons to save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness. Collect unique weapons, spells, and more during your journey to take down powerful bosses and solve clever puzzles. Be part of a vivid, dynamic story passed down from grandfather to grandchildren by influencing the course of events yourself!
Explore a huge open game world in classic action-adventure fashion as Lily, Knight of the Rose! Slash your way through monster infested dungeons to save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness. Collect key items such as bow and boomerang on your journey to extend your fighting capabilities and solve dungeon puzzles.
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King releases on Steam on March 28th. You can check out the Steam page right here.
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.
We found out about party game Use Your Words late last year, and now we won't have to wait much longer to play the game on Steam, Xbox One, and PS4. (Wii U users will have to wait a little bit longer it seems). According to a tweet, players will be able to be funny again April 4th.
Use Your Words is a party multiplayer game which has players using their smart-phones in different minigames (listed below). Check out the trailer below, and see you April 4th!
We're releasing April 4th on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam!
— Use Your Words (@UseYourWords) March 24, 2017
(Wii U coming soon!) pic.twitter.com/nSWGGgtgtU
Coming Spring 2017, it's Use Your Words! The party game for funny people and their unfunny friends! Get more info at http://useyourwords.lol Pre-order it for Steam at https://store.useyourwordsgame.com Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/useyourwords And like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/useyourwordsgameSBG
Our friends over at 13AM Games have announced a huge sale for Runbow. You can pick up the 9 player party platformer on Wii U, Steam, and Humble Bundle for 50% off.
Runbow is on sale! Tons of single player content, online, 50% off. On sale on #Steam, Humble, & #WiiU! #pcgaming https://t.co/6IE0BZumj9 pic.twitter.com/uAG3cM7hr1
— 13AM Games (@13amgames) March 23, 2017
We don't know what's next for 13AM Games, but the sale goes until April 5th. If you're looking to Switch* up your wardrobe a little, you can see similar savings on their official store.
*That's me being funny.
Toronto-based 13AM Games have announced a new paid expansion for their 2022 co-operative kaiju beat ‘em up Dawn of Monsters releasing in 2023.
Toronto-based 13AM Games have announced their side-scrolling, kaiju beat-'em-up game will be releasing on pretty much every platformer later this month on March 15th. Limited Run Games also has a physical edition for all platforms you can check out here.
GRIP is available on Steam, and it looks like a pretty sweet racing game. All the vehicles in GRIP have armour and weapons, and it looks really intense. The creators at Caged Element are planning a console version this year (which I will be all over as soon as it's available). Check out the screenshots and trailer below.
GRIP is now available for purchase on Steam Early Access! Visit the store page here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/396900/ We'll be updating the game frequently, so be sure to check the page for news! You can download a true HD version of this trailer here: http://www.cagedelement.com/grip/video/GripTrailer3.mp4 http://www.twitter.com/gripvideogame http://www.facebook.com/gripvideogame http://www.gripvideogame.com http://forum.cagedelement.com We appreciate the praise and support we've gotten from all of our fans so far.
