TorontoGameDevs Podcast Episode 50

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Normally I don't write about the podcast on the main news site, but we hit a nice little milestone I figured I would share.

We've hit out 50th podcast! Bret Measor, Dan Rodrigues, and myself sat down over the weekend to talk about some of the recent Toronto Game Developed stuff, but we also answered some fan questions. Check it out below, while also subscribing to iTunes.

TorontoGameDevs - Episode 50
TorontoGameDevs.com
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You can also check out our podcast page for all the past episodes.

Podcast Episodes
Guard Crush Games (Absolum, Streets of Rage 4)
Guard Crush Games (Absolum, Streets of Rage 4)

Game Award nominated, Montréal-based indie studio Guard Crush Games joins us to talk Absolum, Streets of Rage 4 and more!

Ep 241 - We're Not the Only Ones... (ft. Devon Wiersma)
Ep 241 - We're Not the Only Ones... (ft. Devon Wiersma)

Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.

Ep 240 - Incubate Your Portfolio, Buddy (ft. David Boguslavsky)
Ep 240 - Incubate Your Portfolio, Buddy (ft. David Boguslavsky)

David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!

Ep 239 - Game Dev Gumbo (ft. Eric Beer)
Ep 239 - Game Dev Gumbo (ft. Eric Beer)

Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.

Ep 238 - "Remake" the Industry lol (ft. Twinolli the Highlighters devs)
Ep 238 - "Remake" the Industry lol (ft. Twinolli the Highlighters devs)

We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!

Interview w. Dragon Slumber (Tech Support, Aethernaut)
Interview w. Dragon Slumber (Tech Support, Aethernaut)

We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!

Ep 237 - Segaphen Saturn
Ep 237 - Segaphen Saturn

Steve spent his tax return on a Sega Saturn so you don’t have to!

Ep 236 - Gamer Dad Mindset
Ep 236 - Gamer Dad Mindset

Steve has entered Gamed Dad Mindset.

Ep 235 - Game Awarding, Spider-Manning & Final Fantasying
Ep 235 - Game Awarding, Spider-Manning & Final Fantasying

We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!

Ep 234 - Don't Despise, Unionize!
Ep 234 - Don't Despise, Unionize!

This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!

Original Video - Week In Review - Valley, N++, Alone With You Releases

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Hey everyone! It's another Week In Review! Our videos which basically summarizes what happened this week for Toronto developed games. Remember to subscribe on Youtube!

Original Videos
Let's Play - Apotheon (And Talk E3)
Let's Play - Apotheon (And Talk E3)
Video Games News Time Daily - May 9th, 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - May 9th, 2017
Video Game News Time Daily - May 1st, 2017
Video Game News Time Daily - May 1st, 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - April 27th 2017
Video Games News Time Daily - April 27th 2017
Graceful Explosion Machine And Nintendo Switch Review
Graceful Explosion Machine And Nintendo Switch Review
Let's Talk - Quick Thoughts On Graceful Explosion Machine
Let's Talk - Quick Thoughts On Graceful Explosion Machine
Let's Play: Horizon Zero Dawn
Let's Play: Horizon Zero Dawn
Let's Play Disc Jam (And Some Zelda Talk)
Let's Play Disc Jam (And Some Zelda Talk)
Let's Play Disc Jam
Let's Play Disc Jam
Let's Play Starwhal
Let's Play Starwhal

 

 

Russian Subway Dogs by Spooky Squid Games Hits Kickstarter

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As previously announced, Spooky Squid's next game Russian Subway Dogs has hit Kickstarter.  There is currently a $50,000 goal, and you can get a copy of a game for as low as $5.00.  Some of the other rewards include Alpha access, a key to They Bleed Pixels, and Pixel Art packs.

"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 of what it's like to scavenge for food from Russian commuters. Surviving isn't easy when you are dodging volatile vodka, rival dogs, and the rare and dangerous Subway Bear!"

Make sure to check out the full Kickstarter and let's get this game funded. Make sure to also follow Miguel on Twitter and stay up to date. Russian Subway Dogs is expected to release early to mid 2017.

Original Video - Ontario Game Developers Working On VR

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Another video! With VR gaining momentum these days, I decided to do a quick video on local developers working on VR.

VR In the news
Transference Out Now In Both VR And Non-VR
Transference Out Now In Both VR And Non-VR
Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes Announces For Console - Gets Release Date
Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes Announces For Console - Gets Release Date
Explore Post-Apocalyptic Toronto Islands In Manimal Sanctuary - The VR Lurking Simulator
Explore Post-Apocalyptic Toronto Islands In Manimal Sanctuary - The VR Lurking Simulator
Mervils: A VR Adventure Out Now On PlayStaiton VR
Mervils: A VR Adventure Out Now On PlayStaiton VR
Original Video - Ontario Game Developers Working On VR
Original Video - Ontario Game Developers Working On VR
Mervils: A VR Adventure Out Now On Steam Early Access - PSVR This Fall
Mervils: A VR Adventure Out Now On Steam Early Access - PSVR This Fall

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.

Red Meat Games Gives 'Bloxiq' The VR Treatment
Red Meat Games Gives 'Bloxiq' The VR Treatment

Red Meat Games is bringing Bloxiq, the puzzle game from Blot Interactive, to HTC Vive and PSVR

Phantom Compass Takes Us To 2080 In 'Auto Age: StandOff'
Phantom Compass Takes Us To 2080 In 'Auto Age: StandOff'

N++ Comes Out For Steam August 25th

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With the Beta happening early this month, it was likely we would hear about a N++ Steam release date shortly. Thankfully it will be sooner than later as Metanet Software announced PC gamers can play the ninja platformer August 25th.  Windows is the only supported platform at first, but it is coming to Mac and Linux. You can check out some footage of the level editor below:

The game will be 15 dollars when it launches, but you might as well bookmark their Steam page right now.

Check Out Our Reviews!
Cube Samurai: RUN! - TorontoGameDevs Review
Cube Samurai: RUN! - TorontoGameDevs Review

While it is certainly fun for a while, it suffers from the same problem other mobile games on Steam do: Cube Samurai: RUN!’s price tag of $5:49 feels a little steep for the amount of time you might ultimately get from it, so I’d recommend installing the mobile version and giving it a go on the commute to work or on the toilet and see if it’s the sort of experience you’d enjoy on the PC. This aside, it certainly does seems like it would make for an equally fun mobile experience, but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally different than what most people have seen in an infinite runner before.

Kapsul Infinite - TorontoGameDevs Review
Kapsul Infinite - TorontoGameDevs Review

Overall, Kapsul Infinite’s $4.49 price point on Steam doesn’t quite feel worth it to me. There simply isn’t enough to keep me invested in the gameplay for very long, and without any integration of achievements or leaderboards of any kind it just falls a little flat. It is, however, a game that would be perfect for a mobile device where one play session consists of a few levels on the bus or while waiting out an unpleasant family reunion on the toilet. While the PC is not the platform to play it on, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try on mobile devices.

N++ - TorontoGameDevs Review
N++ - TorontoGameDevs Review

We live in an age where it’s easy to get bogged down in new features, and developers often seem to push for complex mechanic after complex mechanic. N++, however, sends itself off with a warm reminder that the series has always been created around one sole value: fun.

Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients - TorontoGameDevs Review
Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients - TorontoGameDevs Review

Despite flaws such as these, I honestly do myself blown away by the potential the game has down the road. It features a robust level editing tool that allows for the creation of scenarios and huge, complex maps. It has Steam Workshop support for user-generated content and (if the patch notes and Longbow Game's Facebook page are any indication) it's still being improved and updated tirelessly by the team at Longbow so many issues described here could very well be patched and improved in future updates.

Alone With You - TorontoGameDevs Review
Alone With You - TorontoGameDevs Review

Alone With You gives you an exceptional story about love, and loneliness, with gameplay that gives you a little more than your traditional visual novel.

Cally's Cave 3 - TorontoGameDevs Review
Cally's Cave 3 - TorontoGameDevs Review

There was once a girl named Cally, who was an ordinary girl who lived an ordinary life. One day she found her parents kidnapped by Herbert, a mad scientist seeking revenge for a tragic past. Cally, deciding it was in her best interests to not have her parents in distress and doing what any respectable young woman would do in this situation, grabbed her semi-automatic pistol and medieval bastard sword and made chase, filling anything that got in her way full of lead before tearing it asunder.

Lost Orbit - TorontoGameDevs Review
Lost Orbit - TorontoGameDevs Review

Lost Orbit is a 2D top down, action-arcade game with a focus on quick reflexes and the age-old struggle to beat a stage faster than you did two minutes ago. It features a time trial mode devoted to achieving exactly that speedy time as well as a campaign mode geared towards a more laid back experience for casual players.

Far Cry Primal - TorontoGameDevs Review
Far Cry Primal - TorontoGameDevs Review

Far Cry Primal has players controlling Takkar, a Wenja tribesman who is stranded in the fictitious world of Oros.  The story comes down to pretty much "I hate that other tribe, so let's go kill them" but over the course of 20 or so hours players will hunt and control animals, craft and improve weapons, and gather your people to rebuild the Wenja tribe.