Interview - Skies of Fury DX Developer

Skies of Fury DX is coming out to Switch this week on April 12th, and I was fortunate to site down with Dan Stopnicki, the Chief Innovation Officer at Seed Interactive. In the talk we go over Dan's history as a game developer, talk about Seed Innovation's previous games on mobile, then we go in depth about their first console experience: Skies of Fury DX.

What's it like from going from mobile to Switch? What did they go with Switch, and Skies of Fury? All that a more! Check it out below!

Remember to subscribe on iTunes and Google Play!

25 New Minutes of Below (4K 60FPS) From IGN

Below is at PAX East this weekend, and IGN got 25 new minutes of gameplay of the upcoming Xbox One exclusive. Check it out below:

We go hands on with the most recent build of Below running at 4K 60FPS on an Xbox One X. Below Gameplay Showcase - IGN Live: E3 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7_UhTOcD4 Watch more trailers here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xSIIbMSVeE&list=PLraFbwCoisJAvwhU-EjfZNFqj5jlAk8hk&index=1&t=0s Subscribe to IGN for more! http://www.youtube.com/user/IGNentertainment?sub_confirmation=1 ------------------------------­---- Follow IGN for more!

Level Up 2018 Showcases The Best New Game Developers

Stephen R Clark checked out LevelUp last night and gave me some of his thoughts about the event, and pictures. You can follow him on Twitter at @theMediaman3.

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The Game Development scene has exploded over the last few years and that’s in no small part to all the Ontario post-secondary education programs focusing on video game development. Just as these students are preparing for exams, Level Up 2018 showcases many of the team and solo projects built by Ontario’s newest game developers.

Level Up is a free event hosted on two floors at the Design Exchange in the heart of downtown Toronto. More than a dozen college and university programs send students to show off their hard work and compete for awards.

Additional sponsorship of the event comes from partners AMD, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Zynga and more; all are looking for the next generation of innovative game designers and artists. There’s no shortage of innovation as traditional game genres are mashed up, reinvented, and perfected.

There were four categories of completion; Best Tech, Best Art, People’s Choice, and Best Overall Game:

Technical Innovation:

PRIMEOPS (UOIT)

Artistic Achievement:

That Night (OCAD)

People’s Choice:

Stop Running (Brock U)

Best Overall:

Super Random Heroes (Sheridan)

OddBird Studio created Super Random Heroes. The team is also known Arrow Heads, which is available on Steam and Xbox One, and soon on PS4. Super Random Heroes grants random (though not always enviable) superpowers to ordinary citizens. The twisted humour and creative gameplay make it an quick game to pick up. Still in early development, the game only has one level and three superpowers. The game is targeted for release in 2020 so there should be many more unique skills and scenes to play by then.

Super Random Heroes also received funding recently at the EGLX Pitch Competition. Several other games that were present at EGLX less than four weeks ago and showed considerable improvement at Level Up 2018. Skies of Iris, Head Rush and Critterbox were also refined following user feedback. Wanderfall, Kojiki54% and Godsend look a lot better after massive graphics and lighting work. Godsend also refined their gameplay and shows a lot of potential as your hero possesses different enemies in order to solve puzzles.

Zephyr didn’t win any awards but should also receive mention since it placed 2nd or 3rd in Best Art, Best Overall, and People’s Choice. At first it looks like a standard 3D platformer, but with the control to immediately switch seasons to Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter the gameplay and visuals make Zephyr unique and fun to play.

Since students are at the end of their school year, most of these games are as complete as they’ll ever be. Many will be posted to Itch.io, others will get a full release on Steam. Many will simply become portfolio pieces as their developers enter the gaming industry. Ontario’s Indie game industry is growing, and each year there are a lot of creative minds at Level Up Showcase to fuel it.

Remember to check out Stephen R Clark on Twitter, and also GeekDad.

Russian Subway Dogs Releases This Year And Features Guest Doggos

We've known about Russian Subway Dogs coming to PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita since late last year, but Spooky Squid Games did announce on the PlayStation Blog that it's coming this year - with some extra friends!

Welcome, comrades! Meet Russian Subway Dogs, a fast-paced action-arcade game inspired by the real-life stray dogs of the Moscow Metro. We have done extensive, totally legal research in order to fine tune this chaotic simulation for what it's like to scavenge for food from Russian commuters.

Lead Designer Miguel Sternberg talked about being able to play as different dogs, including some that are inspired by DrinkBox Studios, and Asteroid Base properties - but the full list is below:

• Meme hero, Question Hound (aka “the This is Fine Dog”) from the comic Gunshow.
• Revolutionary canines Nacho and Rad Shiba from the PS Vita game VA-11 HALL-A
• Hybrid trash vermin, the Ratcoon, from action roguelike Ruin of the Reckless.
• Our own demonic Clawed Kitty, inspired by our previous game, They Bleed Pixels.
• The Proletaricat, your boss and head feline of the pack.
• Uay Chivo from Guacamelee!
• Doppler and Kepler from Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
• Fidel, dungeon delving doggo from the turn-based dungeon puzzler Fidel Dungeon Rescue
• Nidhogg

Russian Subway Dogs is planned for PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita later this year.

Illumination Games Flying Onto Nintendo Switch This Month With Skies of Fury DX

Sorry for the corny title, but I had to. Good news today for Switch owners, as Illumination Games announced a release date for their first console game - Skies of Fury DX. Skies of Fury DX is a Switch port of the mobile game released last year that features over 100 millions. You can check out the full trailer below.

"Take to the skies and experience WWI as a fighter pilot! Skies of Fury DX offers players the chance to engage in epic, aerial combat in historic Bloody April, 1917, as both British and German pilots.

Using 10 distinctive aircraft from WWI, players fly through stunning, hand-painted environments. Dogfight through the missions as a single player, or challenge your friends to multiplayer, split-screen battles."

Take to the skies and experience WWI as a fighter pilot! Skies of Fury DX offers players 10 distinctive aircraft to engage in epic, aerial combat in historic Bloody April, 1917. Dogfight through the missions as a single player, or challenge your friends to a multiplayer, split-screen battle.

Skies of Fury DX will be available April 12th on Nintendo Switch and you can preorder the game right now.

The trailer is live! Skies of Fury DX is coming #NintendoSwitch April 12th and is available for pre-purchase now!🛩️🕹️#nindies #eShop https://t.co/Ii7JofojbW

— Illumination Games (@Illum_Games) April 4, 2018

Runbow Developer Announced New Game: Double Cross

Our friends over at 13AM Games announced their newest game today - Double Cross, which was announced for Nintendo Switch and PC. Double Cross is a 2D platformer, where you're also given a "proton slinger" which let's you grab onto objects as you traverse through the level - but you can check that out in the trailer below.

Developed by 13AM Games, the studio behind award-winning Runbow, Double Cross features an adventure-game style investigation crossed with an intense action platformer. Players are also free to customize Zahra's play style in order to become the top RIFT agent. official site: http://www.13amgames.com/ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13AMGAMES twitter: https://twitter.com/13amgames

"Double Cross is an exciting action adventure game that has players take on the role of Zahra,
an agent of RIFT—Regulators of Interdimensional Frontiers and Technology— whose job it is
to maintain peace and order between all dimensions. A recent attack on RIFT headquarters
thrusts players into a thrilling new case where they must use their RIFT-developed gear to sling,
swing, fight, and investigate across distinct dimensions. During their travels players will gather
clues to bring themselves one step closer to finding the identity of RIFT’s attacker and save every variation of the universe."

Double Cross is announced for Switch and PC with a planned release date of this year. If you're at PAX this weekend you can also check it out.

Welcome to the world of Double Cross! A high-flying platformer/adventure game hybrid coming to #NintendoSwitch and #PC later this year! Come check it out at #PAXEast2018! : https://t.co/u2N49tXU88

— 13AM Games ✈️ PAX EAST (@13amgames) April 3, 2018

Capybara Games Says Below Is Coming This Year

According to a recent interview with engadget Below, the much-delayed adventure game from Capybara Games, is expected to release this year.

"I still can't say the exact date, but we are aiming for this year -- although we've said that over and over, so," [Kris] Piotrowski says. "We have all the systems in place and now we're kind of going deeper and deeper through the world, and polishing and trying to just get it all packaged up."

Below was originally announced during E3 2013, but the extra time has helped Capybara put some polish on the game. Below will run at 4K and 60fps on Xbox One X and they are finalizing the beginning and ending of the game:

"Piotrowski says the development team is putting the final touches on Below -- polishing its intro and outro sections and fine-tuning details across the entire game. Though Capy has a track record of promising a launch and later backing off, this time around it feels different to Piotrowski. After five years of public development, he says Capy is truly, finally, almost done with Below."

Below is planned for Xbox One, and PC and we'll have more on the game as we get it, but remember to check out OK K.O! Let's Play Heroes which came out earlier this year from Capybara Games.

Space Esc8bit Launches on iOS and Android

Space Esc8bit, the 2d endless flier from Virtex Edge Design recently launched on iOS and Android (in both a free, and ad-free paid version). I've been playing the game the last few nights and it's a fast paced and pretty addicting high score chaser. The goal is to simply fly up, avoirding missles, and mines while collecting powerups. Getting the missles to collidge with each other is key to survival, and the game creates some intense pixel-perfect moments.

You can pick it up on Android and iOS, but make sure to check out the trailer and screenshots below:

Race to the stars and dodge an onslaught of incoming missiles before you become drifting star dust your self. Use shields, EMPs and Scatter Missiles to fend off wave after wave of heat seeking missiles and stealth mines. Out now on the App Store and Google Play Store.

You can pick up the game right here on iOS, and Android, and since it's a new release remember to give it a review on either platform. 

March Recap - Interviews, Far Cry 5, Way of the Passive Fist, and More

Going to start recapping each month, so here we go! It was a busy month.

• Guacamelee! 2 is announced for Steam, while Jake interviewed the composer for the first game.
• Far Cry 5 came out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC's. You can also check out the trailer for the games season pass.
• Far Cry 5 wasn't the only release, Way of the Passive Fist from Household Games also came out for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
• In announcements, Star Renegades was announced for PC, Runbow is coming to PS4 and Switch this month, and Grip is coming to consoles and PC.
• We did two interviews this month! Jason Canam from Household Games talked about Way of the Passive Fist, as well as his time at Drinkbox Studios, and trophies.
• I also interviewed Twitch Streamer SteelRain27 about how he became a streamer, and his thoughts on the video game scene lately.

Until next month! Friendly reminder we just started a Discord server, so come join the fun.

Guacamelee! 2 Announced For Steam

Announced late last year at PlayStation Experience, DrinkBox Studios announced today that Guacamelee! 2 will be coming to Steam - infact you can add the game to your Steam wishlist today!

We're excited to announce that Guacamelee! 2 is coming to Steam!

If you're thinking of picking up the game, we'd love it if you could add us to your Steam Wishlist. Every person helps!https://t.co/B8U1vaYvqb

— Drinkbox Studios (@DrinkBoxStudios) March 30, 2018

Both versions of the game are said to be coming "soon", however to celebrate, DrinkBox put all their games on massive sales on Steam so check it out!

Futuristic Racer Grip Announced For Consoles

Happy GDC! Caged Element has announced their futuristic racer Grip will be making the jump from Steam (which has been out since the summer) to Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Switch. They've patterned with Wired Productions to work on the port.

Racers! We’ve teamed up with @WiredP to bring GRIP to PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch this year, both digitally and in stores! Thank you for all your support so far, more details will be revealed in the coming weeks and months! #GRIPthegame pic.twitter.com/p9Bdfpplaa

— GRIP Video Game (@gripvideogame) March 20, 2018

Grip's Game Director Chris Mallinson took to the PlayStation Blog to talk about Caged Element, and even threw in a bit about what sounds like free post-launch DLC:

Caged Element was formed and we started work on Grip – a combat racer for the new generation. We’ve had a wealth of talent join us over the years – all of them being fans of our inspiration, and most of them having previous racing game experience. The latter comes in handy for sure, but when the cars in your game can drive on any surface and on either side, the challenge of creating interesting and balanced tracks is amplified. Thankfully, we’re confident that when the game launches, players will appreciate the wealth of track designs we’ve come up with. And there’s more to come after launch – all of them being free.

GRIP is a high octane, hardcore combat racer, packing ferocious speed and armed to the teeth with heavy weapons. www.gripvideogame.com | www.facebook.com/gripvideogame | www.twitter.com/gripvideogame Evolved from the age of street racing, the world of GRIP is brutal and cut-throat to the core.

We don't have a release date yet, but if you have no patience you can check the game out on Steam Early Access.

Interview - Jason Canam From Household Games

Our first audio-interview! We've put the podcast on hold for he time being, and instead we'll be doing interview with local developers/people. Bret and I have a few ideas on hand as well.

First up is Jason Canam from Household Games who just recently released Way of the Passive Fist on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Jason and I chat about his time at Drinkbox Studios, starting Household Games, accessibility in games, trophies/achievements and more!

Check it out and remember to subscribe on iTunes.

Explore Post-Apocalyptic Toronto Islands In Manimal Sanctuary - The VR Lurking Simulator

Manimal Sanctuary is one of the more unique games I've come across in a while, and it takes place in Toronto (specifically Toronto Island, and more specifically in a post-apocalyptic setting). It's described as a "VR lurking simulator" and you can check out the official description from the iTunes store:

Manimal Sanctuary is a virtual reality lurking simulator that uses mobile technology to enable every player's ultimate fantasy: to play a creature -- part coral reef, part Cthulhu -- who consumes human emotions. Set on the Toronto Islands after the rest of the world is devoured by gibbering monstrosities, you eavesdrop on the survivors and their everyday dramas involving things like bad potato crops and graffiti tags. And if those emotions aren't delicious enough, you can compel them to tell devastating secrets.

You can check out the trailer and screenshots below - also make sure to download the game for free on iOS and Android. I was able to play a bit of the game even without the mobile VR unit thing, so give it a whirl!

Play a creature part coral reef, part Cthulhu, who consumes human emotions. Free demo at http://postopian.games Set on the Toronto Islands after the rest of the world is devoured by gibbering monstrosities, you eavesdrop on the survivors and their petty dramas involving things like bad potato crops and graffiti tags.

Race to Sparklepop Out On Android

A game coming out of the Toronto Game Jam 2017 is out now on Android devices as a free download.  Race to Sparklepop has you and your friends racing balloons past sharp and pointing objects.

Race to Sparklepop was created by:

• Jason Wesley (follow him on Twitter) as game designer/programmer
• Alex Maletich did the sound and music design (follow him on Twitter).
• Felicia Valenti did the voice work (follow her on Twitter)

Remember to download the game on Android! What will come out of the GameJam this year?

Play Rock Bottom On Itch.io

Platypus Paradox's second submission to the Northern Game Design Challenge was Rock Bottom, which is a 2d pixel platformer that was made under 48 hours.

"We've all felt the pain of loss, depression or anxiety. It's almost impossible to not be affected by at least one of these things in day to day life. They can make you feel like you've sunk to a depth that there is no easy escape.  What if that pit was a real entity you needed to conquer in order to  move on? That is the world of Rock Bottom. Face increasingly more difficult platforming levels to climb to the top, collecting new skills and finding the secrets of the story hidden throughout." 

You can check out some screenshots below and play the game for free on itchi.io right here. The game was created in under 2 days, but check out Platypus Studios on Twitter for more from the studio.