Graceful Explosion Machine Celebrates One Year Anniversary

Graceful Explosion Machine launched one year ago on Nintendo Switch, and developer Vertex Pop is celebrating the anniversary with a sale. Mobeen Fikree discussed the early days of GEM:

"I began prototyping Graceful Explosion Machine in mid-2015. The initial spark was creating a shoot-em-up with multiple weapons that the player could switch between effortlessly. It started with two weapons, but pretty soon I thought “Wait, why stop at two?!” With four face buttons on a controller, wouldn’t four weapons work? It did, and everything else grew from there."

The game is currently on a 50% sale on the eshop, but if you're Switch-less the game is out on PC, PS4. In the same post, Mobeen Firkee mentioned the game sold just under 50000 copies on the Switch. We also know what's next up from the developer:

"Speaking of which! We are definitely working on a new game, and we’re excited to share it with you… but not just yet. For now, let’s state the obvious: it’s an action game, it’s colourful, and it’s coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019"

Sky Rogue Coming To Nintendo Switch April 26th

Following Skies of Fury DX release, it looks like we have another flight game from Toronto - this time in the form of Sky Rogue from indie developer Kenny Backus.

"Sky Rogue is a fwooshy rogue-lite action flight simulator! Blow things up over land, sea, and air, on an infinite number of procedurally-generated islands.  Choose one of a diverse set of aeros and kit it out with a dizzying array of weaponry. Go toe-to-toe with enemy aces or assault giant flying aircraft carriers, but watch out for volleys of missiles; when you die, you're dead."

Sky Rogue was on early access on Steam, and then got the official 1.0 release late last year. It'll be out on Switch near the end of the month on April 26th.

Skies of Fury DX Out Now On Nintendo Switch

Incase you missed it, the first console game from Seed Interactive is out now on Nintendo Switch. You can pick up the game for $25.79 on the Canadian e-shop.

You can also check out an interview we did with Dan Stopnicki from Seed Interactive about porting the game from mobile to Switch.

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."

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.

"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

Runbow Coming To Switch and PlayStation 4 In April

We've known about the Switch and PS4 port for a while, but now it's official. 13AM Games' party platformer Runbow will be hitting Switch and PlayStation 4 digitally next month on April 24th.

A physical digital deluxe edition will follow on June 14th for both consoles. If that wasn't enough, 13AM Games will also be working with Dadako Studios to release Pirate Pop Plus on Switch as well.

ICYMI: #Runbow launches on PS4 and Switch April 24th digital, with phsyical deluxe edition launching June 14! 8-player local party madness on Switch with split joycon support! pic.twitter.com/eGimxUmvo3

— 13AM Games ✈️ GDC (@13amgames) March 14, 2018

News Byte! January 9th! Little Red Lie, Nindies Sale, and Skies of Fury DX

Toronto Games Highlight Latest Nindies Sale

Nintendo is celebrating the new year with a sale, and a couple of Toronto games are involved.

• Severed from Drinkbox Studios
• Graceful Explosion Machine from Vertex Pop
• Bleed from Ian Campbell
• Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime from Asteroid Base

It's the #NindiesNewYearSale and Severed is 33% off on Switch this week! Check out all nine indie Switch games on sale: https://t.co/JwcFiFZk6Z pic.twitter.com/5kjvx0xImu

— DrinkBox Studios (@DrinkBoxStudios) January 8, 2018

You can also check out an AMA where all the developers involved answered questions from the fans - including Vertex Pop saying they were thinking of a sequel or DLC on GEM, but are instead moving onto something new.

Happy New Year!
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is now 33% OFF ($9.99) on #NintendoSwitch along with a bunch of other cool games in the #NindiesNewYearSale

Check it out: https://t.co/5MPiKyawes pic.twitter.com/JezVMnFpvP

— Asteroid Base (@AsteroidBase) January 8, 2018

Skies of Fury DX Coming To Switch

The Toronto Switch games keep on coming - this time in a mobile-to-console port. Illumination Games will be releasing Skies of Fury DX to Switch sometime "soon" - the game was originally released on mobile earlier this year. The game will be the studios first console game.

Fight as both British and German pilots during WWI’s battle for the skies! Seed Interactive and Illumination Games are excited to announce Skies of Fury DX for Nintendo Switch™. 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.

The trailer says the game is "coming soon" so we probably won't have to wait long to take to the sky on Switch.

Game of the Year 2017 Voting - Best Multi-Platform Release

Thanks to the feedback from Patrons, this years Game of the Year Voting is split into parts! Starting with Best multi-platform release. Vote away!

Remember to use the #TGDGOTY hashtag on Twitter and enter for a chance to win a 50 dollar Steam, Xbox, or PSN card.

Voting is over. Results will be posted January 10th.

DrinkBox Studios Character Featured In Smash Brothers-like Game 'Brawlout'

Though not developed in Toronto or the surrounding area, Brawlout does have a connection to the game development scene here in the GTA. Similar to Runbow, there are a few indie characters in the game and the Smash Brothers-like game includes Juan from Drinkbox Studios' Guacamelee series as a playable fighter.

A humble agave farmer turned legendary luchador, Juan is always prepared to piledrive evil.

Following his demise at the hands of the villainous Carlos Calaca, Juan was revived thanks to the mysterious powers of a magical wrestling mask. Transformed into the luchador he always dreamed of, Juan set out to defeat Calaca, save his beloved and bring peace to the worlds of the living and the dead.

With moves like the Rooster Uppercut, Frog Slam and Dashing Derpderp, Juan is one wrestler you don’t want to grapple with. If that’s not enough, Juan can transform himself into a chicken, should the mood strike him. It’s no poultry skill, I’ll tell you that!

We'll have to wait a bit more to play Guacamelee 2, but until then gamers can get their Juan-action on in Brawlout which is out now on Switch and Steam, and coming Early 2018 on PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

News Bye! December 15th - Dragon of Legends, Dragon's Lair, Bleed

Action Platformer 'Bleed' Hitting Nintendo Switch December 14th

Bleed is already out on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and now it will be making the jump to Nintendo's console-portable hybrid December 14th (tomorrow !!!). Check out the details below:

Wryn is a girl with a big arsenal and big dreams – she wants to be the ultimate videogame hero! Help her take down the Greatest Heroes of All Time in an action-packed bid to claim the title for herself and show the world what a true hero looks like! Bleed is an action-platformer focused on stylish, acrobatic dodging and fluid, challenging gameplay. There's no filler – just you and your skills against seven levels of enemies, obstacles, breakneck set-pieces and inventive bosses!

Vertex Pop Updates Graceful Explosion Machine On Switch To Allow Video Capture

Nintendo recently updated the Switch to allow video capturing, and slowly games have been patched to allow it. We can now add Vertex Pop's Graceful Explosion Machine to the list - the game has been patched to add functionality.

"We have a small (but pretty cool!) update out for Graceful Explosion Machine today which adds Video Capture support for Nintendo Switch. Now when you pull of a particularly gracefulrun, you can just hold down the capture button and share.

We’re excited to check out all the cool videos you post, so please make sure to share them with us on Twitter!"

News Byte! December 1st - Embers of Mirrim, Game Awards, Podcast