22 Minutes of Plains of Eidolon Gameplay - Warframe

Digital Extremes recently announced a huge expansion to their free-to-play game Warframe, and they recently shown 22 minutes of new gameplay from The Plains of Eidolon which you can check out below.

Watch as we battle a MASSIVE Eidolon and take down Grineer encampments in 22 minutes of NEW Plains of Eidolon footage! The Plains of Eidolon update arrives in Warframe in 2017. https://www.warframe.com

Phantom Compass Launches Auto Age: Standoff

Phantom Compass, the creators behind Rollers of the Realm have released their latest game, Auto Age: Standoff, on Steam this past week. Auto Age is a car combat game taking place in the future, but with a 1980's style to it:

"Choose your side and speed full throttle into a deadly game of ruthless car combat soaked in '80s Saturday morning cartoon style. Will you rally behind SAIGE and Val Vega to fight for a better future, or seek total domination with the evil Dark Jaw and his ragtag Jawlings?

Hurl headlong into the chaos of twelve-player online combat, buckle up for classic couch co-op, or even do both. With Auto Age: Standoff's versatile split-screen play, you and three other friends can skirmish privately or team up together in online battles."

You can pick up Auto Age: Standoff on Steam right now, which has a 20% launch discount as well.

The retro-future world of AUTO AGE: STANDOFF comes to life in this animated, voice-acted story trailer. Team up, gear up, roll out! http://store.steampowered.com/app/458680/Auto_Age_Standoff/

Arrow Heads Launches On Steam

Our good friends at Oddbird Studios have released their first title, Arrow Heads on Steam. Arrow Heads is a multiplayer arrow shooting game, where you can play locally or online - and right now it's enjoying a 20% launch discount. So check it out on Steam.

Now available for purchase on Steam! http://store.steampowered.com/app/580890/Arrow_Heads/ Grab your friends, neighbors, extended family and that handsome cashier from the grocery store and get ready for some sweet, award-winning, couch and online multiplayer. With your trusty bow, shoot, dodge and deflect arrows in this zany isometric archery game.

Asteroid Base Bringing Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime To Switch

It sort of got leaked before, but now it's official - Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime will be coming to Nintendo Switch October 3rd, 2017.

Coming to Nintendo Switch on October 3, 2017 Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a frantic 1-4 player couch co-op action game. Explore a colourful galaxy in a massive neon battleship that you control together by manning turrets, lasers, shields and thrusters.

Spread the love and share the Joy-Cons! LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS SPACETIME launches on Nintendo Switch on October 3! pic.twitter.com/luvbbyG1hY

— Asteroid Base (@AsteroidBase) September 20, 2017

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is currently avaliable on Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One - but the developers said in a tweet: "Since the #NintendoSwitch reveal we knew it was the perfect platform for LOVERS. We're super excited to finally share it with you all!"

Based on the trailer and gif, it does appear it will contain the 4-player update. It will be out on October 3rd.

Let's Play - Maize - First 15 Minutes

Maize came out recently on PlayStation 4, and Xbox, so we played a bit.

Maize came out for PS4 and I play the first 15 minutes.

Fossil Hunters Live Now On Kickstarter

The gang over at Reptoid Games have launched their Kickstarter for Fossil Hunters, which as of this writing is currently at $16029 of their $35000 goal.

Fossil Hunters is an Action/Adventure game where you build your own dinosaurs using a modular system of interlocking Fossil Blocks.

Find the Fossils you need by exploring your environment and clearing away dirt and rocks. Each Fossil has a number of possible connection points and will snap to another Fossil when they are close together.

Build Fossil Skeletons to complete objectives and unlock new levels and items.

You'll play as an Elite Fossil Hunter who goes on the most dangerous and mysterious expedition ever. However when you arrive at the dig site, it's been trashes and the entire team is missing. Fossil Hunters is planned for PC currently, and the Kickstarter goals have an expected delivery date of March 2018, and you can check out the Kickstarter right here.

Runbow Coming To Nintendo Switch Next Year

No one is safe from Runbow. 13AM Games announced today via Twitter that "by popular demand" Runbow will be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2018.

Well folks, by popular demand, #Runbow is coming to #NintendoSwitch in 2018! Debuting at #TGS2017! :D pic.twitter.com/ZLSZK4MvcI

— 13AM Games (@13amgames) September 14, 2017

13AM Games recently announced a PlayStation 4 port, but the game is available on Wii U, Steam, 3DS, and Xbox One.

Let's Play - Planet of the Eyes Gameplay Recording

Planet of the Eyes came out on PS4 the other day, and I streamed it. Forgetting that Youtube saves these Streams, it's now avaliable for your viewing pleasure.

I decided to Stream Planet of the Eyes so I did, bonus cat and dog in the camera

Maize Now Available on PS4 and Xbox One

Maize by Finish Line Games is now available on PS4 and Xbox One.  It was previously released on Steam on December 1, 2016.

“Maize is a first-person adventure game about what happens when two scientists misinterpret a memo from the U.S. Government and create sentient corn. And that last sentence is pretty much the least ridiculous thing about the game.

Explore an abandoned farm and a not-so-abandoned underground research facility as you uncover the mysteries around Maize, and possibly learn a bit about yourself along the way. Or maybe not.

With a colourful cast of characters and an absolutely absurd world, Maize offers up a unique experience that keeps the surprises coming. Seriously, they’re everywhere.”

Maize is OUT NOW for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One! Please enjoy our launch trailer. NOTE: Finish Line Games will not be held responsible for any misunderstandings involving the viewer and any ears of corn he/she/they may encounter in real life after viewing this trailer.

Planet of the Eyes Now Available on Xbox One and PS4

Planet of the Eyes by Cococucumber is now available on Xbox One and PS4.  This retro puzzle game was previously available only on Steam and was released on August 24, 2015.  For those of you who haven't played it, it is about a robot who is stranded on a planet, and it has really great visuals and music.

Planet of the Eyes was a finalist for "Best indie Game" at the Canadian Videogame Awards.  There is a 20% off sale until September 26.

Atmospheric narrative platformer Planet of the Eyes is coming to PS4 and Xbox One Sept 12, 2017. A finalist for "Best Indie Game" at the Canadian Videogame Awards, Planet of the Eyes tells the tale of a service robot stranded on a mysterious planet.

McMaster Students Launch Kickstarter For Chocolate Conquest

Soft Snow Studios Limited is a group of software engineering students from McMaster University.  They have a Kickstarter going for their JRPG style game, Chocolate Conquest.  It has a turn-based battle system, and your party can have up to four characters.

“The game takes place in a strange world, where chocolate is the source of all power. It is delicious, and flows through all beings.

You will play as Yuuri, a young woman with the power to topple the world’s rules, and stand against fate. Yuuri is able to relive her past experiences, and open doors that were previously closed to her.

By finding allies and gathering strength across playthroughs, Yuuri hopes to shatter the rules placed on the world.”

Their goal is to reach $3000 by October 6.  At the time of this post, they're at $168.

Runbow Releasing On PlayStation 4 This Year

It was released on Wii U, then some DLC, then Steam, then 3DS, and then Xbox One and now PlayStation owners will get a chance to play some Runbow.

13AM Games announced their party platformer, Runbow, will release sometime this year. Here is a trailer!

Runbow, and all its multiplayer madness, is finally coming to PlayStation 4! With tons of competitive modes for up to nine players online and four players locally and a massive Single Player Adventure, Runbow is the crazy, colour-based platformer you've been waiting for.

ANNOUNCEMENT!: #Runbow will be coming to #Playstation4 this year worldwide! Thanks to @HeadupGames @RainyFrogGames and @stagecs! #PS4 #indie pic.twitter.com/GbbgqOa0bT

— 13AM Games (@13amgames) September 7, 2017

Does A Good Game Need A Good Story? - Guest Blog With Mohammed Hasan

 "No amount of great animation will save a bad story.

John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar

As a '90s kid, growing up with the Nintendo 64 encompassed a fountain of endless fun and impeccable classics. Super Mario 64, Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Brothers and much more! However, as time progressed, the video game industry changed its focus to immersive storytelling. This paradigm shift begs the question: Do video games make the story or does the story make the video game?

Let's look at Naughty Dog, the lucrative company that prides itself on character-driven narrative with the Uncharted series and The Last of Us. Their studio philosophy and award winning titles redefined the emotional connection gamers have with their characters, while aiming to set the narrative gold standard. "I want studios that make story-based games to start taking their stories more seriously...[with] an in-house writer that sits next to the designer, helping them make their levels," Neil Druckmann beckons. While this meticulous standpoint cemented Naughty Dog's legacy in the industry, other companies etched their name in a different way.

Arguably, Nintendo is the root of the video game tree. Its mega influence stretches worldwide and at the forefront of that triumph is the Mario franchise. Despite its earth-shattering sales, it’s unlikely that the average gamer recognizes the Mario series based on its storytelling. Getting entangled with the enthralling Super Mario 64 levels overshadowed the basic goal of rescuing Peach, who happened to make a delicious cake and left it at the castle. I highly doubt gamers mouths’ watered as they heroically strived to obtain that cake with every collected star, ability cap and crushed Goomba. In this case, Nintendo laser focused on memorable gameplay, not memorable storytelling. "Video games are meant to be just one thing. Fun. Fun for everyone," Satoru Iwata proclaimed. Even though you weren't hanging on the edge of your seat anticipating the flavour of the cake, Super Mario 64 embodied the fun factor.

So, is storytelling necessary for video games? It depends on how you view gaming in general. If you're someone who casually pops in a disk or cartridge to have a good time, then gameplay would probably take precedence instead of storytelling. However, if you look at gaming as an immersive, cinematic experience, then scout out story-driven games.

Play the story or let the story play you.

About the Author

As a local GTA resident, Mohammed Maxwel Hasan enjoys the treasure trove of effective storytelling in a variety of contexts. Starting with the N64, he found gems within the video game world and looks forward to what the future brings. For storytelling in video games, feedback on this article, or just want to connect, you can directly email him mohammedmaxwel@gmail.com or visit his website https://maxwel92.wixsite.com/mohammedmaxwelhasan.

Guest Blog Post - Thoughts on Bit Bazaar from Mega Power Games

Along with Brian Yoon the other day, Antonio Miceli from Mega Power Games got to try out some games at the recent Bit Bazaar last week, as well as Gaming Garage at CNE. He was kind enough to write up some thoughts on the recent event. While reading his thoughts make sure to check out Shift from Mega Power Games.

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On the weekend of August 25-27 I had the opportunity to participate in the first edition of the
CNE Gaming Garage (CNEGG) and Bit Bazaar. Here of some of the highlights of the weekend:

PINBALL-MANIA
From the moment you walk through the doors of the CNE Gaming Garage, you are greeted with
the clacks and dings of modern and restored pinball machines. There were approximately 15-20
machines set up for free play where anyone could hop on a machine and go to town. On the
Friday and Saturday there were qualifiers for a pinball tournament (the CNEPC 2017, run by the
Toronto Pinball League). As someone who had never participated in a pinball tournament
before, my results were expected (I stunk up the joint). My favourite pinball machine was one of
the oldest: a machine called Jungle Queen where I posted my best individual result.

Tabletop
In one corner of the Garage there was an area where CNE goers could sit down, grab a board
game and play.
There were also vendors selling board games in booths nearby. I was lucky enough to have
time to play Uncaged: World Warriors, an MMA deck building game from ZeMind Games. As an
MMA fan I was pleased to see a board game encapsulate the strategy one would use in an
MMA fight.

Northern Arena
A large part of the Gaming Garage was devoted to esports and VR, all run by Northern Arena.
This was arguably one of the most popular fixtures inside the garage, as there were consistent
lineups to play VR games, as well as esports games finals being broadcast on the mainstage.

Bit Bazaar
Garage goers would have noticed a long line of tables along the side with games on display that
they may have never heard of before. The Bit Bazaar has been running since 2013, and thanks
to assistance from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Gamma Space TO managed to
secure some table space to host their eighth edition of the event. Here are only a small subset
of games that you would have found at the event (and that I had a chance to play):

Way Of the Passive Fist - Household Games
This was one of the games that I was looking forward to playing. The artstyle evokes classic
games made in the 90s, but the strategy that you need in this tactical brawler definitely lives up to the standards of today’s modern games. HH Games built a custom arcade machine to show
off at the CNEGG on the Friday and Saturday before packing the machine up and driving across
the continent for PAX.

Tribes of Teldar - Boat Rocker Games
A free mobile turn based strategy game, Tribes of Teldar is a board capture game which is
reminiscent (at least to me) to Go...if each Go piece had a warrior on it that could directly fight
other warriors. The art style is fantastic, the gameplay is easy to pick up, and there’s a lot of
replay value.

Block Droppin’ - Rocketship Park
I read about this game before the CNE Gaming Garage started, and the style intrigued me.
Turns out the gameplay is just as fun as the game looks. Released last week, Block Droppin’ is
a puzzle game where the board is divided into two halves. In the top half, players slide colored
blocks to create shapes by matching colors. Once created, those shapes drop into a grid below
where they’ll need to complete horizontal lines to score points. The game plays smooth, and is
something I could easily see myself playing everyday (if I had an IPhone that is).

Dungeon Crew - Clockwork Kraken
Don’t be fooled by the game’s artstyle. While gorgeous and kid friendly, this demo packs a lot of
tactical elements. The game is level based where you take four warriors out into the battlefield
to battle waves of enemies. Unlike in Final Fantasy where your warriors are stationary and
susceptible to damage, this game allows you to dynamically switch your warriors to adjust
depending what appears in the enemy lanes. The boys at Clockwork Kraken were looking for
feedback for their game all weekend, and from what I can see, the game looks absolutely
promising. Watch out for the the finished product, folks.

Breakforcist - Lucid Sheep Games x Pete Ellison
Breakforcist is the most adorable brick breaker game I have ever played. As waffles fall from the
sky, you need to bat the ball to break them and earn points before they hit the bottom of the
screen. The game made me happy, as well as hungry. If you seek out this game, give it a whirl.

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Thanks again to Antonio and Brian for writing up some things about the Gaming Garage/Bit Bazaar since I couldn't make it out!

Guest Blog Post - Thoughts on Bit Bazaar From Brian Yoon

Friend of the site Brian Yoon checked out this past weekends Bit Bazaar and was kind enough to give some thoughts on the games he played. You can check Brian's Soundcloud right here, and follow him on Twitter here.

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It was my first game event that I attended that was not a game jam. I was there to promote the game that I made music for called The Dungeon Crew by Clockwork Kraken (https://www.clockwork-kraken.com) and it was amazing! The hours are definitely gruesome, however it was fun and fulfilling.

The gaming garage inside CNE displayed array of games. Anywhere from boardgames to console games were there. Also there was a street fighter tournament happening as well. On the right side as soon as you enter, was game full of indie developers around Toronto. I was really surprised by all the different types of games that Toronto had to offer. There were games that are action driven to narrative games. I tried almost all the games that was there and I must say I was impressed and honoured to be part of such talented scene! Here are some of my favourite highlights. I will try my best to keep it nice and brief. Also they are in no particular order!

1) Quench by Axoninteractive

This is a story driven puzzle game where you play as a Shepard that controls the weather. With your weather controlling powers, you guide animals to safety. This game reminded me of Black & White except you are not a god. The game design was simple and yet had depth. Player is given a level of freedom to manipulate the weather however the player wants. I really like the concept and idea of involving something as simple as weather to project the game. 

2) Way Of The Passive Fist by Household Games

This game reminded me of the 80s game side scrolling fighting games as such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or any of the games you played that sucked all the quarters out of you in the arcade. However, this game takes it a step further. This game is about parrying and doing the enemy to charge up for your attack, hence the name Passive Fist. The art work reminded me of Mad Max mixed with some samurai. The concept of the game is what sold me. We often think of button mashing and "hack and slash" games when it comes to fighting and action packed games. This game has as much action as those types of games and it takes a step further by having players' full attention to mechanics and surroundings. Not only that, these guys brought a homemade arcade machine to really give the arcade feel. Amazing. 

3) Shift by Mega Power Games

Super casual game! If you liked 2048 on your phone, then you are going to love this. This game has similar game play without math. Who likes math anyway?

4) The Dungeon Crew by Clockwork Kraken

I know I made music for this and it could be self promotion type of thing. But I really think this game has potential. Easy mechanics and visuals to satisfy all age and gamers. Also very casual because it can be played on your mobile devices.The game features different class of heroes that you can control and manipulate as the game progresses. Don't let cute animation and characters fool you, this game is more challenging than you think! Release date is likely to be next year. 

Overall, I really enjoyed discovering and exploring all the different types of games at BitBaazar. I hope this event becomes a bigger platform for indie game companies to shine and display their product in the future. 

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Thanks to Brian for putting this all together, we'll have another person's take on Bit Bazaar soon!