Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Toronto GameJam was a few weeks ago, and friend of the site Tabby let me know that most of the games from the event are up on itch.io - you can check them out right here.
Make sure to also check out our Discord which has active chats about gamedev related things :)
Hey everyone! Just a friendly reminder that I'll be on vacation fora week and won't be updating the website that much. However, good friend Sebastian Scaini (who you can follow on Twitter here) will be taking care of you with some updates.
See you in a week! Oh and remember to join the Discord and become a Patron :)
Really proud of my MisJam team and what we pulled off! Check out our 2 player boxing game Bear Knuckle Boxing!https://t.co/arx4nYurXd
— Sebastian Scaini (@sebastianscaini) May 14, 2018
Made with Carson Mackie, @wuwuwuzhang and @ShawarmaSwarm pic.twitter.com/6cSNAXK98t
I'm shaking with excitement - Sebastian Scaini
Run Jump Fail is the latest game from Luke O'Connor, who previously released Kapsul Infinite on Steam. In Run Jump Fail is a platformer where you will...fail, a lot:
"Run Jump Fail puts you in control of the hapless HappyMan, and tasks you with guiding him through a whole load of treacherous obstacle courses. You'll fail a lot along the way, but watching HappyMan collapse and flail when he's just run into a wall, or tripped on a ledge, or been hit by a big red spinning thing is a lot of fun.
Seriously, failing is 90% of the fun. So fail away."
You can check out the trailer and screenshots below. But make sure to head over to Steam to pick it up for only $7.99. Of course if you're a Patreon at the $4.00+ level you have a chance at getting a free copy as well.
Out now on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/781640/Run_Jump_Fail/
Canadian indie game studio Red Meat Games have released their episodic, narrative-driven audio game Project Dark on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
As part of the Mix Showcase last month, Toronto developer Kitten Cup Studio showed off some gameplay from their 2022 game Pekoe.
Quebec developer Norsfell have announced their 10-player co-op action-RPG Tribes of Midgard will be out on PlayStation, and Steam on July 27th - the game is also available for pre-order on both platforms.
Triversal, the puzzle game from Toronto developer Phantom Compass has a release date, and thankfully we won’t have to wait that long. The game comes out on July 13th, and you can wishlist it on Steam here.
BOMBING!!: A Graffiti Sandbox, the graffiti sandbox simulation game from indie dev (and friend of the site) Devon Wiersma, is out now on Steam, and itch.io.
After launching on Steam last year, St Catharines based Rocketship Park will be porting their puzzle story-driven adventure game LOVE to Nintendo Switch “soon”.
PixelNAUTS Games, who last released Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity on various platforms have released a new trailer for their upcoming space-racing brawler Rocket Rumble. You can wishlist the game on Steam right now which is scheduled for sometime this year.
Mad Devils, the twin-stick shooter from Itzy Interactive got a new gameplay trailer ahead of its May 10th release date. Mad Devils is an arcade co-op shooter set during World War 2 but has Allied special forces hunting down Nazi occultists resurrected as demons
Metanet Software has announced the next console to get the ninja platformer N++. The game will be coming to Nintendo Switch May 24th.
"We can't wait for you to try N++ on the Switch -- it plays perfectly, local multiplayer is a blast, and the fact that you can take it with you when you travel is just the best. We've been waiting for this day for a very long time, and it's incredibly exciting that it's almost here. You're going to love it!"
Check out the trailer below.
YEAH! N++ is coming soon to the Nintendo Switch! SOON! Get ready to release your inner ninja on May 24th, 2018. Click SHOW MORE to see details: N++ is a fast-paced, momentum-based platformer where you get to play as a badass parkour-loving ninja, narrowly escaping enemies and collecting gold in sci-fi landscapes.
A couple weeks ago Ludum Dare 41 happened, and lots of local devs took to their computers for 2 to 3 days to make some fabulous games!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Ludum Dare, it is a very popular online game jam with two competitions: compo, in which you make a game in 48 hours solo, and jam, where it's 72 hours with teams.
This Ludum Dare's theme was "combine two incompatible genres". It was a tough design challenge that lead to a bunch of interesting and fun games!
I'll be highlighting some of the games made for Ludum Dare here in Toronto. Be sure to check them out!
Click on the image previews of the game to visit their respective Ludum Dare pages!
Combinations: Racing & Walking Simulator
JAM GAME by Lameosine, YinTing He, E Sarkis, Jake Butineau, and John Wang
Combinations: Turn Based & Real Time Action
COMPO GAME by Potondo
Combinations: Turn Based & Top Down Shooter
JAM GAME by gi11
Combinations: Not Stated
COMPO GAME by Gabe
Combinations: Match 3 & Action
JAM GAME by sebastianscaini, Del Nordlund, Flatterp, and aceofhearts
Disclaimer: this is my game.
If I missed anyone's games send me a DM on Twitter (@sebastianscaini) and I'll update the post with your game!
In June, VRTO (the Virtual and Augmented Reality World Conference and Export) will be held here in Toronto, and TorontoGameDevs.com readers have a chance to save! Use the code: TOGameDevs15 to save 15% on tickets.
If you're unfamiliar with VRTO, it's a yearly event centered around VR - you can check out the website and full details here. This year will have a bunch of local speakers including Lee Vermeulen from Alientrap.
VRTO aims to empower people to share their world, culture, knowledge and dreams with the assistance of emergent immersive technologies.
Recognized internationally for its high caliber, high-quality discussions, in-depth training, world-class presentations and top level speakers, VRTO brings together compelling discourse and bleeding-edge prototypes, demonstrations and innovative companies in carefully crafted schedules and environments.
While many conference focus on airing the problems and pain points in the industry, VRTO has an acute focus on searching for solutions for these problems, and testing candidates.
VRTO is always an opportunity to build powerful and long-lasting business and personal relationships, with a very open-minded and inclusive community, unafraid to ask the big questions. Furthermore, the show provides many different tools to ensure attendees find their best matches towards meeting their goals at the show.
I was just mentioning on this weeks podcast that VR appears to just be full steam ahead right now, with Bloxiq VR shown last week, here comes Mervils, a fantasy VR game from London developer VitruviusVR.
Way of the Passive Fist came out in March, and I think you should pick it up. Whether or not you have the game has been updated to version 1.1.0.3 with some improved UI and bug fixes. You can check out the patch notes here.
The first Title Update for #WayOfThePassiveFist is now live! We have a new site to track all updates, so check out the details of v1.1.0.3 here!https://t.co/PIQfXv4SO6 pic.twitter.com/xYdoMoWkp8
— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) May 1, 2018
V1.1.0.3 features many quality of life updates, like making the blast zone of mortar fire much more clear. No more guessing the blast radius, stay clear of the red zone! pic.twitter.com/SXFFemiD1q
— Household Games (@HHGamesInc) May 2, 2018
Way of the Passive Fist is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
This week on our weekly interview show, I chilled out with Benjamin Rivers. An indie developer here in Toronto, Ben has released Home on PlayStation 4, Vita, iOS, and Steam, as well as Alone With You on PlayStation 4, Vita, and Steam. He is also a teacher, illustrator, and Twitch streamer.
We talked about his history as a gamer, and then game developer, as well as his two releases and teases for his next game. Remember to subscribe on iTunes and Google Play!
This interview was available to Patron's first.
Local studio Boat Rocker Games have released a free-to-play puzzle game on Android and on iOS. You can check out some screenshots and description on Fusioneer down below:
"Welcome to the lab Amateur Fusioneers!!
Grab a lab coat and start firing atoms from the fusion cannon to get your fusion core as high as you can in this bubble shooting puzzle game! More fusions produce higher value atoms to experiment with and will allow you to output higher amounts of energy!
This fusion of puzzle and arcade gameplay is easy to pick up and play but rewards careful planning and precise shots. Get hooked in from your first fusion as you start your quest to create the largest fusion core possible!"
We just launched a new game about fusion and cats and science! Check out #Fusioneer on the #iOS and #Android app stores!
— Boat Rocker Games (@BoatRockerGames) April 28, 2018
iOS: https://t.co/oJ3d0wrFUb
Android: https://t.co/onEJgOPtSE pic.twitter.com/4xPv72k2f0
Do you want to give For Honor a try but don't want to straight up purchase the game? Ubisoft got your back as they'll be having a free weekend for the medieval pvp fighter next weekend from May 3rd - May 6th.
Details can be found on the website here with the timing below.
Xbox will start on May 3, 2018 at 1am PDT, and will end on May 7, 2018 at 12am PDT
PS4* will start on May 3, 2018 at 1am PDT, and will end on May 7, 2018 at 12am PDT
PC* will start on May 3, 2018 at 10am PDT, and will end on May 6, 2018 at 1pm PDT
*PS4 & PC pre-load available starting May 1, 2018 at 12am PDT
Become a Warrior during the For Honor Free Weekend happening May 3-6. Keep the progress of your adventures and save up to 67% on the game. Existing Warriors, if you train with your apprentice friends, you can both earn a bounty with the Warrior Training Program. Visit ForHonorGame.com/FreeWeekend to learn more!
Ubisoft has announced that Prince of Persia is returning…sort of. The series, which hasn’t seen a console game since 2010’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is coming as a limited-time event in For Honor. The update includes 30 pieces of Prince of Persia-inspired loot to unlock.
Ubisoft is having a special Halloween event for For Honor - live now until November 1st the “Fans of the Otherworld” in-game event is free for all players. It comes with a new game mode, exclusive Halloween-themed loot, and new executions
Ubisoft announced that Season 3 of their third year for For Honor on August 1st will introduce new Viking Hero ‘Jormungandr’, as well as a new Breach map, and various quality of life and balance changes. Check out the full trailer below.
As previously announced, Sky Rogue is officially out on Switch. You can pick it up for $24.99 CAD. The soundtrack is also available which you can pick up here. If you rather play the game on your PC - it is on sale on Steam during this week.
Sky Rogue is now on the #NintendoSwitch!https://t.co/GuWnSIV0uP
— Sky Rogue Official (@skyroguegame) April 27, 2018
PC version is also 40% off!https://t.co/uZbM1BY37Z pic.twitter.com/NknbokybO7
With #SkyRogue releasing on #NintendoSwitch yesterday, now seemed like as good a time as any to get the soundtrack up on Soundcloud. The rest will be up next week; the whole OST is available on both bandcamp & youtube in the meantime!https://t.co/ImyaYWFCm1
— Pete (@PhoneticHero) April 27, 2018
Cat couple owner slash game dev studio Max Inferno announced a 2nd DLC pack for their tidy puzzler.
Halifax-based devs Max Inferno have released Cupboards & Drawers DLC for their 2022 puzzler A Little to the Left.
Vancouver-based indie powerhouse Brace Yourself Games (@BYG_Vancouver) announced their upcoming rhythm game spinoff will be released on Nintendo Switch as well as Steam.
Toronto-based Drinkbox Studios’ Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack will be getting printed on a cart.
Montréal-based game dev Johan Vinet has partnered with Limited Run Games to release physical copies of his upcoming 2D cinematic platformer LUNARK for PlayStation 4, 5 and Nintendo Switch- set to release later this week.
Vancouver-based Daniel Mullin Games is working with Special Reserve Games to release a physical edition of his 2021 roguelite deck-builder Inscryption for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Toronto-based indie powerhouse Vagabond Dog is releasing a physical copy of their cult classic 2014 RPG maker title Always Sometimes Monsters in partnership with Limited Run Games.
Cuphead is celebrating its initial launch on PC and Xbox One 5 years ago today, September 29, with the announcement of a physical copy of the game coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch.
Tribes of Midgard Season 3 drops later this month which comes with a slew of free updates, including a new Saga Boss, a revamped survival mode, new weapons, enemies, armors, and more.
Sea of Stars, the Sabotage Studio follow-up to The Messenger has been delayed into 2023. Originally announced in 2020 with an extremely successful Kickstarter for a 2022 release date, the team has pushed it to next year citing two main priorities: quality of life for their team, and the quality of the finished product.
Interview number five! This week I sat down with voice actress and singer Felicia Valenti, who has done voice work for anime, tv shows, and video games. We go over her history as a opera singer, a gamer, her tips for becoming a voice actress/actor and rant a little bit at the end as well. It's good times. You can check out her work here, and follow her on Twitter here.
Remember to subscribe on iTunes and Google Play!
Tribes of Midgard Season 3 drops later this month which comes with a slew of free updates, including a new Saga Boss, a revamped survival mode, new weapons, enemies, armors, and more.
Power Level Studios have released their strategy RPG Soul Reaper: Unreap Commander on Steam Early Access. The game is featuring about 1/5th of the planned content, with obviously lots more on the way. The studio posted on their Steam page why they went with the Early Access route.
It's mostly about content creation. You see, we're aiming to have 100+ monsters and 400+ loot, and drawing and animating all that takes time. Now, having 100+ monsters sounds arbitrary, doesn't it?
I assure you it isn't! We want every monster to be unique. And by that, I don't just mean visually and stats-wise, but I mean that it's useful in some situations, but may be less optimal in others. Plus, with 100+ monsters, there are many unique ways to work out synergies between other monsters and leads to more interesting team builds.
The full releasse is planned for Q4 of this year, and by going with early access you can shape the future of the game:
“Price will not change when we leave early access. But! By taking part of our development journey, you'll have your say on how you want the game to shape up. It's like being an assistant-designer. Just without getting paid. Mwahaha!”
Now LIVE on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/775920/Soul_Reaper_Unreap_Commander/ Soul Reaper: Unreap Commander is an asynchronous multiplayer version of Soul Reaper, focusing on monster team building as well as Soul Reaper's signature fast turn-based combat, and loot and souls systems. Assemble teams of Unreaps and train them against pre-defined challenges, or compete online against other players' teams and earn epic loot and souls!
Check out the game on Steam and follow the gang on Twitter.
Drum roll please.... #SoulReaper: #UnreapCommander is FINALLY OUT AND LIVE! Catch it while it's hot and steaming (sorry) on #Steam! And, feel free to let us know what you think about this little guy and his team of #unreaps! https://t.co/OaF6spq7vA#indiedev #gamedev #indiegame pic.twitter.com/rz6eWkmmhf
— Power Level Studios (@PowerLvlStudios) April 24, 2018
Playing Hard a documentary that gives an inside look into Ubisoft creating last years medieval action game For Honor will have its debut at Hot Docs May 2nd (tickets can be purchased here). The movie will take a look at the games development, as the team grew from one, to twenty, to over 500.
'In the world’s biggest video game studio, a constantly growing team works on the creation of For Honor, a game that stages an epic war between Vikings, knights, and samurai. Like the game’s characters, the main creators will face adversity that will take their personal lives to the breaking point.'
If you can't make it to the event then you can preorder the digital version right here. For Honor came out last year on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC and has had a healthy dose of updates since release - including Season 5 in February.
In the world’s biggest video game studio, a constantly growing team works on the creation of For Honor, a game that stages an epic war between Vikings, knights and samurai. Like the game’s characters, the main creators will face adversity that will highly impact their personal lives, up to the breaking point. _________ Playing Hard offers unprecedented access to a highly secret world where a few gamers/designers are shaping what has now become the biggest entertainment industry in the world. It follows the creation of the game For Honor over a four-year period. As the production team grows from 20 to 500 people, we witness the human theatre involved in creating and launching a major video game. From Montreal to Los Angeles, through Cologne, Moscow, Seattle, and Asia, we follow Creative Director Jason VandenBerghe, Producer Stéphane Cardin, and Brand Manager Luc Duchaine as they struggle to bring an idea to life. Beyond the commercial success of the game, their dreams, fears, and relationships are at stake.
Ubisoft has announced that Prince of Persia is returning…sort of. The series, which hasn’t seen a console game since 2010’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is coming as a limited-time event in For Honor. The update includes 30 pieces of Prince of Persia-inspired loot to unlock.
Ubisoft is having a special Halloween event for For Honor - live now until November 1st the “Fans of the Otherworld” in-game event is free for all players. It comes with a new game mode, exclusive Halloween-themed loot, and new executions
Ubisoft announced that Season 3 of their third year for For Honor on August 1st will introduce new Viking Hero ‘Jormungandr’, as well as a new Breach map, and various quality of life and balance changes. Check out the full trailer below.
According to 13AM Games, the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch port for Runbow has been delayed. According to the PR Statement, as posted by Nintendo Life, the delay is to "further optimize the game’s performance."
Sorry for the delay, everyone. #Runbow for #Nintendoswitch and #PS4 is delayed, but rest assured the wait will be worth it! We just wanna make sure to polish it up before we get it in your hands!
— 13AM Games no longer @ PAX EAST booth 21019 (@13amgames) April 20, 2018
Thanks for your patience! 🙇🏽♂️🙇🏽♂️🙇🏽♂️ https://t.co/uttx9lT9gF
This may be the last port for Runbow, as it's already launched on Wii U in 2015, then ported to Steam, 3DS, and Xbox One last year. 13AM Games also announced their next game, Double Cross, coming later this year.
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.
![Metanet Software Would "Love To Bring [N++] To Switch"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5516beafe4b0c6d76a97bb4d/1489880319809-LYAFA02PMF44GFRMO9L8/14055099_1125813754145922_3963339626902375160_n.jpg)
