Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
With Graceful Explosion Machine coming out last week on Switch - it's time to preorder the excellent soundtrack from Robby Duguay.
The original soundtrack for #GracefulExplosionMachine is coming out on Thursday April 13th! Pre-orders are up now at https://t.co/KCTtbwPpRO pic.twitter.com/4inKo5QrrD
— Robby Duguay (@RobbyDuguay) April 10, 2017
You can pick up the soundtrack for 7 dollars (US), with preordering getting you 3 tracks early. For 21 dollars (US) you get all 10 of Robby Duguay's releases. You can check out the details here, while also watching the video below on my thoughts on Graceful Explosion Machine.
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!
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.
Indie developer Reptoid Games released a first-look video of their upcoming game Fossil Hunters, which actually won Ubisoft's Indie Series funding earlier this year.
Fossil Hunters is an action-adventure game in which you dig deep into a mysterious underground world to uncover fossils and match them together in countless combinations. Uncover never before seen creatures and survive this exciting realm as new friends and rivals compete to get hold of your discoveries. Will you sell your fossils for cash? Or will you donate them to research, push the boundaries of scientific discovery and become the world’s greatest Fossil Hunter?
Fossil Hunters is an action-adventure game in which you dig deep into a mysterious underground world to uncover fossils and match them together in countless combinations. Uncover never before seen creatures and survive this exciting realm as new friends and rivals compete to get hold of your discoveries.
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.
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.
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.
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 gives you an exceptional story about love, and loneliness, with gameplay that gives you a little more than your traditional visual novel.
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 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 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.
As previously announced, Graceful Explosion Machine is out now on Nintendo Switch. The Vertex Pop shooter was previously announced last year, and then later confirmed for a Switch launch window release later. You can pick it up on your Switch right now for $13.99 CAD.
We'll have a full review for the game sometime in the next week, but until then you can check out my general thoughts below (it's really good):
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!
🚀🚀🚀 WE HAVE LIFT-OFF#GracefulExplosionMachine is OUT NOW on #NintendoSwitch
— vertex pop (@vertexpop) April 6, 2017
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/yPOuktv2Zo
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.
One last preview as Levelup TO is today, at the Design Exchange (234 Bay St.) from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. I interviewed Livius Grosu, a Ryerson University student in Computer Science. He has created a VR horror game that he will be showing today at LevelUP TO.
TGD: Tell me a bit about yourself. (Is this your first experience at LevelUP? Have you created games in the past?)
Livius Grosu: I'm currently attending Ryerson University for Computer Science and I plan on breaking into the game dev field. I've had an interest in making games ever since I got my hands on it! From gamer maker studio to the latest version of Unity, I've been making games ever since. This LevelUp that I'm attending will be my first and I'm super excited about it!
TGD: What is your game for LevelUP TO this year?
L.G: This year I'm submitting a VR horror game called MK. My goal for this game is to create a dark/sinister world with unwelcoming 'inhabitants'.
TGD: What did you get your inspirations for this game?
L.G: The VR horror games theme stems from the games Amnesia, Penumbra, and Thief the Dark Project. Ever since I played those games, I always wanted to mimic the horror and tension atmosphere that those games created. Amnesia and Penumbra helped me understand different types of horror. What those games really tried to emphasize was the horror of the unknown, which in my opinion, is the best kind of horror as it pulls through the core of what horror is. Thief had tension between the player and the environment such as hiding in the shadows while a guard is nose hair away from you. I wanted that kind of tension in my game to emphasize the fear and horror that a player might encounter.
TGD: What are you most excited to show off about MK, and about LevelUP?
L.G: We're excited to show off how the game can bring out the fear in a player. Every asset from sound, models, lighting, and more, pushes this principle and it all ties nicely into a horrifying bundle. I'm also excited to talk to members from Unity, AMD, and Ubisoft and get a slice of how the game dev field works!
Thanks again to Livius for taking the time to interview. We'll see everyone tonight at LevelUP TO!
The debut game from a new Western Canada indie dev duo was revealed during Day of the Devs 2024.
Cat couple owner slash game dev studio Max Inferno announced a 2nd DLC pack for their tidy puzzler.
A year after being announced, Compulsion Games has shown some gameplay for their 3rd person, action-adventure game.
After severing ties with recently unionized QA studio Keywords and terminating 50 developers earlier this year, BioWare has rebranded their next game from Dragon Age: Dreadwolf to Dragon Age: The Veilguard seemingly ruining years of perfectly good SEO.
Gears of War: E-Day was announced during Xbox’s Game Showcase, marking the second prequel in the Gears of War franchise.
Vancouver-based Company of Heroes 3 developer Relic Entertainment has secured funding from UK investment firm Emona Capital after laying off almost 200 staff since May 2023.
Victoria-based indie devs Hololabs have released their mobile AR game Sky Haven: AR Merge Adventure for iOS.
NetEase Games has announced the opening of a new game studio in Canada, named Bad Brain Games, to work on an "ambitious new franchise," which will be a story-driven open-world action-adventure game.
Bloom Digital Media have released a demo for their upcoming visual novel game Long Story 2, which is a sequel to the 2017 game.
Halifax-based devs Max Inferno have released Cupboards & Drawers DLC for their 2022 puzzler A Little to the Left.
Funny party game Use Your Words is officially out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam. Use Your Words is developed by Toronto based Smiling Buddha Games, and has players playing a variety of minigames using their smart phones, or tablets. You can check out the official trailer below, the game is also expected to hit Wii U "soon".
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
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 did an interview via Skype with 5 Horsemen Games, a group of Sheridan College students. Their game Unspokin is a story about a young woman who cannot speak, and a blind bear, who work together to replenish their environment.
5 Horsemen Games includes:
Katherine Elliott: Art Director, QA Lead
Eirik Murbraech: Level Artist
Danielle Rainey: Producer, Project Manager, 3D Artist
Filipe Seabra: UIDdesigner, Programmer
PJ Tremblay: Audio Artist, Narrative lead
Here is our interview. Enjoy!
5 Horsemen Games will be at LevelUP TO and Digifest 2017. Check them out on Twitter @5horsemengames, and you can email them at 5horsemengames.info@gmail.com.
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.
###
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!
The new studio founded by ex-BioWare devs Humanoid Origin is looking to fill multiple roles.
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.
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.