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.

TorontoGameDevs Interview - Jason Canam

TorontoGameDevs.com

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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!

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.

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

Makers Of Halcyon 6 Announces Next Game: Star Renegades

The makers behind Halcyon 6 have announced their next game. Massive Damage announced today Star Renegades, another tactical squad based rogue RPG, which you can add to your Steam wishlist here. The game will include an Intelligent Adversary system which will generate enemies and bosses as you play, while also unlocking hundreds of characters.

Fusing a reactive, tactical turn-based battle system that emphasizes interrupts and counters, with a procedurally generated and emergent mission-based campaign and an intelligent Adversary system with enemy officers that evolve and move up in the ranks, every playthrough is unique, challenging, and never the same.

According to the Steam page, Star Renegades is "coming soon."

EGLX Gives $95000 To Pitch Competition Winners

Figured this would be a good evening to talk about some competition winners. EGLX (which happened this weekend, and was great) had a pitch competition where they gave away a combined $95000 to independent studios/creators in the area.

MightyYell Studios, Oddbird Studios, Falling Squirrel, and Steph were the winners, and we'll have more on their work in the coming months right here on TorontoGameDevs.

Congrats to all #EGLX2018 Pitch Competition winners!

The Big Con by @MightyYell Studios: $50,000
Super Random Heroes by @OddBirdStudio: $30,000
The Vale by @FallingSquirrel Inc.: $10,000@stephh3_3's Games Marketing Agency: $5000

Can't wait to see your projects come to life! pic.twitter.com/lEau28LWgD

— EGLX (@EGLXofficial) March 11, 2018

Alientrap Wins Ubisoft's Inside Series

Just like Reptoid Games winning last year, Ubisoft Toronto and United Bank had the second Indie Series which provides $50,000, mentorship from Ubisoft Toronto, and a few other things.

Alientrap, who are working on Wytchwood, Gunhead, and are looking for some Unity help, took home the main prize. Falling Squirrel took home second place, and $25,000.

Today eight Ontario indie game development studios pitched a panel of Ubisoft and National Bank experts, and after rigorous competition, Alientrap Games were announced as the winners of the second edition of Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank. This year’s grand prize consists of $50,000 (CAD), mentorship from Ubisoft experts to help with development, personalized financial diagnosis and council by National Bank experts, distribution on the Uplay PC store, marketing support for their game and entrepreneurial training experience by National Bank.

Falling Squirrel took home the National Bank Special Prize for their entry, The Vale, which includes $25,000 (CAD), mentorship by Ubisoft experts to help with development, and personalized financial diagnosis and counsel provided by National Bank experts.

About the Ubisoft Indie Series

Back for a second edition, the Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank is an annual competition for independent game development studios, offering cash prizes, mentorship, and creative, marketing and financial tools to help local studios and their games reach new heights.

Ubisoft is a supporter of the video game ecosystem

Ubisoft opened its first Canadian studio in 1997 and its first studio in Ontario in 2010: Ubisoft Toronto. Since then, the company has played an active role in developing a passionate and creative ecosystem where studios, small and large, have collaborated to make the videogame industry shine on an international level. Making games is difficult and presents many challenges: financially, creatively, and more. This is precisely why we want to connect with our colleagues, share knowledge and expertise, and together, ensure Canada continues to grow as a game development leader worldwide.

Road to EGLX: Oddbird Studios - Arrow Heads

Continuing our Road to EGLX, we're looking at Arrow Heads from Oddbird Studios - a game we've actually talked about for a while now. It launched back in September, after winning Level Up, and now will be at EGLX for all to play.

If you'd rather play before hand to get some skills and dominate one of its Game Designers Brendan (it won't be hard), you can pick the game up on Steam. Check out the trailer below.

Make sure to pick up some tickets to the show!

Far Cry 5 Season Pass Trailer

Ubisoft released a trailer for the season pass of Far Cry 5, which you can check out below.

Way of the Passive Fist Out Now On PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Way of the Passive Fist, Household Games' debut game, is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam, Humble, Green Man Gaming). I played the first few levels of the game last night and really enjoyed my time so far - it's a fun experience that is a mix of 16-bit Beat em Up's, and Punchout. Check out the trailer below and check the game out on your prefered platform!

Road to EGLX: Voidless Studios - The Forgotten Void

EGLX is just right around the corner, and there are a bunch of studios show casing their games at the show - we've already talked about a few and next up is Voidless Studios! They'll be showing thier minimalist adventure game The Forgotten Void.

Many centuries ago, 2 worlds were formed, the Null World and the Overworld. Humanity existed on the Overworld while the Null world was inhabited by Null entities, mystic creatures that brought evil and chaos to the Overworld. When the 2 worlds were created, a portal known as the Gateway was created that that linked the 2 worlds, where humans and Null entities could come in and out. However, 9 other portals were also formed that led to void fragments that were keys to unlock the Void core in the Gateway which would destroy the Null World. Void Guardians were humans of the Overworld that defended humanity against the invaders of the Null world but as time went on, Void Guardians were few and far between while the Null world slowly consumed the Overworld. 

As one of the last Void Guardians that survived from the Great War, our hero is suffering from amnesia due to their injuries in the war and as they wake up several months later, they hope to recollect their memories by traveling through the cities of the Overworld. 

1 week till #EGLX2018! Get tickets at https://t.co/53MRwswDtL #gamedev #indiedev pic.twitter.com/otdbKfpByh

— Voidless Studios (@VoidlessStudios) March 3, 2018

They'll be EGLX this weekend, and can check out this page to find their (or others) specific booth. You can also pick up tickets to the event here.

Road to EGLX: SkyPyre - The Blobs Fight

Continuing our Road to EGLX we're now going to look at SkyPyre's upcoming party game The Blobs Fight. It's something that I didn't actually know about until looking at the studios going to EGLX so I'm pretty excited to get my hands on it. They'll be at booth I25.

The Blobs Fight is a silly, over-the-top arena party game about creatures of blob like nature, fighting each other to the blash! (Blob for death). Run around as a blob attacking other players to knock pieces of them off, collect those pieces to get bigger, be the largest or the last one standing, profit.

Road to EGLX: Reptoid Games - Fossil Hunters

Next up on our Road to EGLX we'll look at one of the more recent releases coming out of Toronto. Reptoid Games will be at the event showing off their game Fossil Hunters (which you can pick up on Steam right here).

You can buy tickets to EGLX right here.

Kickstarter Plug: Let's Help Fund Spirit Animal Survival

Spirit Animal Survival is an open world PVP, and Co-op survival game which launched its Kickstarter a couple of weeks ago - and they can use our help. The game is scheduled for PC (check the Steam page here) to release around this time next year according to the Kickstarter, where they discuss the early access version:

Spirit Animal Survival Early Access version features a very stable CO-OP and PVP Multiplayer Survival Game, with almost all features of the full version implemented. Currently included are the following features: 5 different environments totaling approximately 36 square kilometers 100 different Animal and Creature Types Over 200 Craft and Building Items Taming/Mating of specific Animals Morphing into Spirit Animals Extensive Character Creation system for Male and Female 6 Tiers of starting clothes sets Different Mountable Animals and Boats 4 Boss Instances Volumetric Weather System with Day and Night cycles.

The full game will expand on this including 11 areas and bosses, and more crafting options.

You can check out the Kickstarter right here where 20 dollars will net you a copy of the game in the future and beta access. You can also follow the team on Twitter and check out their site for more.