Action Twin-Stick Shooter 'Project AETHER: First Contact' Coming Soon To Steam

Here is one I missed from October of last year, but Sleepy Spider Studios have announced a twin-stick shooter set in space Project AETHER: First Contact which you can wishlist on Steam right here.

As a threat from beyond looms over the solar system, Project AETHER is ready to deploy! Take control of the powerful AETHER mech in this action oriented twin stick shooter. 

Fight the alien threat across 9 unique levels, each with a powerful boss to defeat. 

Customize your mech's loadout with an assortment of powerful weapons, including the rapid fire assault rifle, high impact railgun, concentrated laser beam, and more. 

Announcing our new game, Project AETHER: First Contact, a fast-paced twin-stick shooter where you pilot the prototype mecha AETHER as you face off against a robotic alien force bent on the destruction of mankind. https://t.co/u9gdoEfTWc #indiegame #gamedev #indie pic.twitter.com/ePP5396fBB

— Sleepy Spider Studios (@SpiderSleeps) October 3, 2018

According to Steam the game is coming soon, so hopefully we don’t have too much longer to wait.

Away: The Survival Series Announced During Playstation: State of Play

It looks like Riverbond wasn’t the only Canadian game announced during Playstation’s State of Play last week. Quebec based Breaking Walls announced Away: The Survival Series for Playstation 4 and PC.

As cataclysmic storms bear down on the planet, you must travel across vast environments in search of safer lands. From the mighty treetops to the forest floor, immerse yourself in nature as you explore a vibrant world brimming with life, but beware of the dangers that await on your journey.

Inspired by nature documentaries, AWAY: The Survival Series takes you on the Sugar Glider's breathtaking journey into the wild. https://www.awayseries.com Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/750200 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwaySeries Twitter: https://twitter.com/AwaySeries Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AwayGame

The game has you running, jumping, climbing and gliding though an “organic, living world”. There will be a “nature documentary narration” for the storyline, but also a variety of side-quests and is planned for 2020.

Pamplemousse Games Launches Kickstarter For 2D Action-RPG 'Spleen'

Montreal-based Pamplemousse Games have announced and launched a Kickstarter for its 2D action RPG about childhood nostalgia. The game has a beautiful hand-painted watercolour backgrounds, while telling the story of Johann who is torn between a stressful adult life, and the nostalgia of being a kid.

“Play as Johann, a disenchanted young man feeling the weight and responsibilities of his life slowly breaking his spirit. His work is crushing, his dreams are fading and he realizes that adulthood isn't really what he was hoping for.

But when he gains the ability to enter the Kid World and fight his problems as his childhood self, he might just find a way to make life worth exploring again!”

Back the game on Kickstarter! http://bit.ly/SpleenKickstarter A 2D action RPG & life sim video game about childhood nostalgia. Rekindle your love of life using the power of the child within you! Play as Johann, a disenchanted young man feeling the weight and responsibilities of his life slowly breaking his spirit.

🍂 SPLEEN IS LIVE ON KICKSTARTER! 🍂

👉 https://t.co/efFmsZ52SG
💖 Help us make our dream project a reality!
🔃 Retweets and Shares would make us sooo happy!#Kickstarter #gamedev #indiedev #2danimation #indiedevhour #indiegame #RPG #UE4 pic.twitter.com/HgNivnrJN7

— Pamplemousse Games 🍂Spleen is on Kickstarter!🍂 (@PamplemousseDev) May 1, 2019

As of the time of this writing, the game is currently 33% to its goal $90,000 goal, with 17 days left, so plenty of time to check it out and show your support. You can also wishlist the game on Steam, and they say consoles would be next after a PC release.

Game Developer Jobs - Community Manager / Social Media Promoter - Frolic Labs

We got a lot of postings for jobs on the site right now, here is one for Frolic Labs.

Community Manager / Social Media Promoter

Frolic Labs is looking for a part-time or freelance Community Manager / Social media promoter to join our team. The Community Manager's primary goals are to build up interest in our game, share development progress and create social media buzz. 

Responsibilities

• Assist in creating a social media marketing campaign to build up presence

• Write and Generate PR content based on in-game media. 

• Find creative ideas to engage the community and generate interest

• Manage the company Discord server and grow the community

Requirements

• Strong, positive personality with a highly independent work ethic.

• Active knowledge of Twitter, Discord, Reddit and game related communities. 

• At least some  experience in video game community relations

• Writing and content creation abilities

• Experience with creating and following content schedules

This a part-time remote position in Toronto. Please apply to jobs@froliclabs.com with resume and profile links.

Drinkbox Studios Releases Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack On Switch

Drinkbox Studios did a stealth release today of their first game Tales From Space Mutant Blobs Attack on Nintendo Switch, which you can pick up right here.

Mutant Blobs Attack is a sci-fi puzzle-platformer where you play an ill-tempered blob that grows in size by swallowing everything in its path. Evolve from a tiny captive into a world-eating giant. Gain freakish abilities like magnetism, telekinesis, and rocket boosting. Use your mutant blob powers to devour the pathetic humans and all of civilization!

Mutant Blobs Attack is a sci-fi puzzle-platformer of cataclysmic proportions! You're an ill-tempered blob that grows in size by swallowing everything in its path. Evolve from a tiny captive into a world-eating giant. Gain freakish abilities like magnetism, telekinesis, and rocket boosting. Use your mutant blob powers to devour the pathetic humans and all of civilization!

To celebrate the launch, DrinkBox is also putting all of their games on Switch on sale. You can also get Mutant Blobs Attacks on the cheap if you own a game already.

Severed - 50% off!
Guacamelee! STCE - 40% off!
Guacamelee! 2 - 30% off!
Guacamelee! 2 DLC1: Enemigos - 50% off!
Guacamelee! 2 DLC2: Proving Grounds - 50% off!
Guacamelee! 2 Complete - 30% off!

Voxel Couch-Coop Dungeon Crawler Riverbond Coming Out This Summer

Shown off at today’s Playstation State of Play, Cococucumber announced their couch-coop voxel dungeon crawler will be coming to PlayStation 4 this Summer. They then followed up saying it’ll also be out on Xbox One and PC. You can wishlist the game here on Steam.

⚡#Riverbond - Gameplay Trailer ⚡
Featuring crossover skins from 8 #indiegames 😍
Coming this Summer to PS4, Xbox One & PC 🔥
RTs appreciated! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tY3XAbA1y4

— RIVERBOND ⚔️ (@cococucumberco) May 9, 2019

In true dungeon-crawling style, Riverbond takes you on a journey through memorable worlds where you battle monsters, find treasure and become the hero. We wanted to channel the nostalgia of playing games from the 16-bit era and infuse it with fast and fluid controls for maximum action! Riverbond lets you choose your play style by letting you select from a ton of melee or ranged weapons to fight waves of enemies, take down huge bosses or completely decimate everything in sight.

It was also announced that there will be plenty of skins from other games added to the game, including Drinkbox Studios own Juan from Guacamelee, Lover Mu from Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, and Robot 5 from Cococumber’s previous game Planet of the Eyes.



Game Set In Pixelated Regina Saskatchewan - Queen City Chaos - Announced

Regina Saskatchewan developer Massive Corporation Game Studio announced this month they are working on a NES-inspired retro-style brawler adventure as their first game. Queen City Chaos will take place in Regina, Saskatchewan and players can “wander around a pixel version fo the Queen City and explore the mysterious and dangerous adventure that await.”

Massive Corporation plans to have a single player storyline as well as local multiplayer. We only have the below tweets so far. We’ll have to wait until Spring 2020 for the game to release on Steam, but we’ll have more on the site when it becomes available.

It's official, Massive Corporation Game studios is proud to announce it's first game: #QueenCityChaos.
A #NES-inspired brawler adventure game set in #Regina #Saskatchewan #Canada set for release on @steam_games next year.#hometown #gamedev pic.twitter.com/XLiXpy7gAr

— Massive Corporation (@Massive_CA) May 2, 2019

Okay, our first #screenshotsaturday! Here's the title screen from #QueenCityChaos our newly announced brawler adventure ala River City Ransom we're developing using #GameMaker set in our hometown #YQR. pic.twitter.com/a3FbQD2A4G

— Massive Corporation (@Massive_CA) May 4, 2019

Bishop Games Gives Light Fall A Free Update One Year After Release

Quebec based Bishop Games have updated their platformer Light Fall from last year with a free update. In a blog post going over the year since releasing the game, Bishop Games goes over the launch of the game, the troubles with the final boss, and how is became a poplar speedrunning games. The free update, which is available today on Steam and Switch adds new levels with leaderboards, revamped difficulty, and bug fixes - you can check out the patch notes here.

To celebrate the update, you can also pick up the game for 50% discount on both Steam and Switch.

#LightFall's Lost Worlds Edition is also available on #NintendoSwitch. Uncover secret levels, experience several changes and compete in a new #Speedrun season! The game is also at 50% off until May 6!
Visit the #eShop or https://t.co/Hm0ZBHAHlO#Nindie #Switch #Nintendo #indie pic.twitter.com/WnHthna5Ux

— Bishop Games (@BishopGamesTeam) April 25, 2019

Light Fall is available now on Nintendo Switch and Steam (PC/Mac)! Switch: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/light-fall-switch Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/416830/Light_Fall/

Two Free Modes Coming To Tech Support: Error Unknown

Tech Support: Error Unknown came out in February on Steam, and we even had an interview with the developer behind custper support rogue-lite puzzle game. There’s been a few updates since then, but the two biggest are coming May 6th.

The two new modes will be Endless Challenge Mode, and Zen Mode. Endless Challenge mode have players fighting to the top of an online leader board, while Zen Mode has you completing tickets without fear of losing your job. Check out the trailer and press release below - and the game on Steam!

Tech Support: Error Unknown is available on Steam: http://bit.ly/2rsf0uJ Play the free demo now! Itch.io: http://bit.ly/TechSupport-Itch Gamejolt: http://bit.ly/TechSupport-Gamejolt Official website: http://dragonslumber.com Things are not what they seem at your new tech support specialist job. While resolving customer issues, you soon find yourself in the middle of a conspiracy.

NEW MODES UPDATE AND WEEKLONG 25% DISCOUNT ON STEAM FOR ‘TECH SUPPORT: ERROR UNKNOWN’

Play it cool or amp up the competition- the choice is yours!

Haarlem, The Netherlands: Indie video game publisher Iceberg Interactive and developer Dragon Slumber are launching a new ‘Endless Challenge Mode’ and ‘Zen mode’ update to the award-winning ‘Tech Support: Error Unknown’. The game will also be on sale with a 25% discount from May 6th-13th on Steam.

In the ‘Endless Challenge’ mode, players fight to reach the top of the online leaderboards; taking on 3 different challenges, each with 2 levels of difficulty. The challenges you can compete in are:

• Speed: complete as many tickets as you can within 10 minutes.

• Time: earn a target amount of money as fast as possible by completing tickets.

• Perfection: respond to as many customers as you can but don’t make any mistakes... One misstep and your game is over!

Feeling stressed out or overwhelmed? In Zen mode, players can complete tickets for as long as they wish without the risk of losing their jobs.

Both modes are now available for free through Steam for ‘Tech Support: Error Unknown’ owners and are integrated seamlessly with the original version of the game. Players can access the new modes in two ways:

1. Through completing the game! By reaching any of the game's multiple main endings, the modes are automatically unlocked. Players who have already completed the game will see these modes unlocked immediately.

2. When booting the game, players can click on the BIOS option to manually activate the new modes. They may also uncover additional secrets in this menu!

Tech Support: Error Unknown has also been shortlisted as a finalist at Momocon 2019, and lead developer Kevin Giguère from Dragon Slumber will be attending the event from May 23rd to 26th in Atlanta, Georgia. Stop by booth 1031 and find out if YOU are the best tech support specialist out there. More information on Momocon 2019 can be found here.

Supporting assets including trailer, new screenshots and fact sheets, are available via the Tech Support: Error Unknown Press Kit. For media requests including developer interviews and latest preview builds, please email pr@iceberg-games.com.

ABOUT TECH SUPPORT: ERROR UNKNOWN

Tech Support: Error Unknown is an adventure game with simulation and puzzle mechanics, which places you in front of a virtual computer. As a tech support specialist new to the job, use a wide array of computer software to solve customer issues or choose to manipulate programs for personal gain. Hack your system to unlock its full potential, GPS track lost phones, scan profiles to blackmail customers, or simply propose they reboot.

While on the job, you discover a conflict between your corporate employer and an anonymous rogue hacktivist group, trying to take them down. Will you climb the corporate ladder, secretly join the hacktivists, or help the police expose them? Alternatively, will you pursue a more personal agenda? The choice is yours!

Stay up-to-date with the latest Tech Support: Error Unknown news and information:

Tech Support: Error Unknown Facebook

Tech Support: Error Unknown Official Website

Dragon Slumber Twitter

Dragon Slumber Official Website

Iceberg Interactive YouTube

Iceberg Interactive Official Website

ABOUT DRAGON SLUMBER

Dragon Slumber is a Quebec-based indie studio founded in 2013 by Kevin Giguère, a programmer with over 20 years' experience. As of 2019, Dragon Slumber has released the award-winning Tech Support: Error Unknown for PC, Mac and Linux, along with JRPG Arelite Core, and runner racer Astral Traveler for PC. Dragon Slumber believes that great games begin with careful and innovative designs and always strives to provide unique experiences for gamers.

Please visit https://www.dragonslumber.com/ for more information.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Twitch

Shakedown: Hawaii From The Developer Behind Retro City Rampage Releasing May 7th

VBlank Entertainment, the Vancouver developer behind Retro City Rampage will be releasing their latest - Shakedown: Hawaii on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and PC tomorrow on May 7th. Similar to Retro City Rampage, Shakedown: Hawaii is a retro style open-world game similar to the original Grand Theft Auto Games.

The entire island is up for grabs... or at least, could be with the right business model.

Welcome to Shakedown: Hawaii, Vblank Entertainment's latest open world adventure. Build a "legitimate" corporation by completing open world missions, acquiring businesses, sabotaging competitors, "rezoning" land, and shaking down shops for protection money.

You are the CEO, and questionable subsidiaries, misleading ads, fine print, hidden service fees, and marketing spin are your tools of choice. Shakedown: Hawaii parodies big business, and the most absurd business practices that go alongside.

From the boardroom to the streets, build your corporate empire and destroy the competition.

Arrives May 7! Coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®4, PS VITA, Nintendo 3DS and PC. Learn More: vblank.com | Build a "legitimate" corporation by completing open world missions, acquiring businesses, sabotaging competitors, and "rezoning" land. The entire island is up for grabs, or at least, could be... with the right business model.

The game will be out on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and PC on May 7th, and is expected to hit Nintendo 3DS at some point.

Rocketship Park Releasing Word Forward May 22nd On iPhone, Apple TV, and Android

Rocketship Park out of St. Catharines Ontario announced yesterday their next game, this time a word puzzle game. Word Forward has you using all the letters in a 5x5 grid to make words disappear and clear the board:

Word Forward isn’t about spelling the longest words or the most clever - it’s about carefully using every tile to declare victory in 500 puzzles. It requires cunning and strategy -- Word Forward is a brain teaser that will really make you think!

Word Forward comes hot off the heels of re-releasing Block Droppin on iOS. Word Forward will hit iPhone, Apple TV, and Android phones May 22nd. If you’re an Android user you can pre-register for the game right here.

We’re excited to announce that Word Forward will be the next game from Rocketship Park! An App Store classic from @egvroom, we’ve rebuilt this puzzler from the ground up using #madewithunity. Coming May 22 to the @AppStore, @GooglePlay *and* @AppleTV. pic.twitter.com/Y9m4lgcIHZ

— Rocketship Park (@Rocketship_Park) May 1, 2019

Quebec-based Triple Scale Games Releases 'Save Your Nuts' On Steam

Triple Scale Games has released physics-based competitive multiplayer Save Your Nuts on Steam last week. The multiplayer game can be picked up on Steam right now, where it’s currently enjoying a 20% launch discount. Check out the description, screenshots and trailer below!

In Save Your Nuts, crafty squirrels organize a tournament to challenge other animals in a physics-based competition for the ages. Make daring plays alongside your teammates, grab food power-ups, and tackle your opponents to steal their nuts in this frantic multiplayer-focused party game!

After two years working like nuts, Save Your Nuts is officially released into Early Access with a 20% launch discount!
Please help us to spread the word.
You can find it on:
Steam: https://t.co/umMzvgu0b1
Our Website: https://t.co/QgOWUpUybi#UnrealEngine #UE4 #indiedev #steam pic.twitter.com/siqC7bc221

— Save Your Nuts (@TripleScale) April 24, 2019

http://triplescalegames.com Go nuts in Save Your Nuts, a multiplayer game thinly disguised as wacky forest sport. Put your cooperation skills to the test over intense, in-your-face physics-based battles not for the faint of heart.

Top Stories for CanaidanGameDevs: April 2019

Here are the top stories from the site this last month.

• Way of the Passive Fist was announced and then released for Switch.

• Block Droppin Blitz released on iOS.

• Terrorarium Hits Early Access.

• Google’s upcoming streaming service, Stadia has a Canadian connection.

• Blazing Bit Games Reveals New Retro Shooter Nightmare Reaper.

• Pitfall Planet is out on Switch.

• Amateurs by Sleepy Tom Released as a Retro-Style arcade skateboarding game.

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s next DLC is out now.

• Multiplayer tower offense Radio Violence out on Steam.

• Rogue Star Rescue is also out now on Steam.

• Golf Bitz releases world-wide on iOS and Android.

• Crimson Moon DLC for Starlink: Batle for Atlas is out now

Jobs

We also had some job postings!

• 3D Environment Artist

• Technical Producer

• iOS Web and App Programmer

• Unreal Programmer

• Video Game Business Development Specialist

• UI/UX Designer

Golf Blitz From Noodlecake Studios Launching Worldwide May 2nd (Out Now For Some Countries Including Canada)

Saskatchewan based Noodlecake Studios will be launching its latest Stickman game Golf Blitz worldwide on iOS and Android phones on May 2nd. Luckily if you’re in one of Canada, Ireland, Germany, South Korea or the Philippines you can play it today.

For the rest of the world, you’ll have to wait a few more days. In the meantime check out the trailer below.

🚨🚨 Golf Blitz has an official world wide tee time! On May 2nd iOS and Android players will finally get to experience the evolution in the Super Stickman Golf series. We have been working really hard on this one and hope you enjoy it! #playgolfblitz 🔥⛳️🏌 pic.twitter.com/7DT2C4qJiC

— Noodlecake 🍜🍰🕹️ (@NoodlecakeGames) April 18, 2019

Game Developer Jobs - 3D Environment Artist

Snowman, the Toronto-based studio behind Alto’s Adventure, Alto’s Odyssey, and the upcoming Skate City, Where Cards Falls, and Distant are looking for a 3D Environment Artist. You can check out the posting below and send your resume and portfolio to jobs@builtbysnowman.com. You can also check out their website for further information.

3D ENVIRONMENT ARTIST

We are looking for an experienced 3D Environment Artist to build the world of a new game at Snowman. 

Snowman is a small game studio at the centre of artful experiences. Our goal is to create meaningful experiences that you may sit with for a short time, but that sit with you for a long while.

Responsibilities

• Model beautiful, stylized, natural environments.

• Work closely with concept artist and game designer.

• We need someone multi-faceted who can wear many hats and learn things on their own.

Required Skills

• Minimum 2-3 year of experience developing 3D environments

• Preference for minimal and non-photorealistic art styles.

• Proficient in the use of Maya (or other 3D modelling package), Photoshop, ZBrush/Mudbox, and texture creation/material editing (Substance Painter/Mari/Unreal/Unity). This new game will be made with Unity.

• You should have a good sense of design (but you don’t need to be a “designer”).

• You need to be comfortable with the constraints that different platforms (e.g. mobile, console, PC) require of your work.

• Versatility. We are looking for someone to design, model, texture, and bring any other expertise that'll help realize the world we are trying to create.

Bonus Points! 

• Game design experience.

• Have worked on minimal/non-photorealistic games before.

• Familiar with iOS / macOS / tvOS ecosystems.

• Fine art experience.

You’ll be joining a small but world-renowned team based downtown Toronto. At Snowman, we’re flexible on daily hours, working from home when required, and we’re not micromanagers–we want you to be empowered to make decisions on your own. Experience, talent, and drive are more important than fancy school degrees.

Please send your resume and portfolio to jobs@builtbysnowman.com

Snowman is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Snowman welcomes all races, religions, genders, countries of origin, and sexual orientations.

Applicants must legally be allowed to work in Canada.