Block Droppin Blitz Out Now On iOS

A couple of years ago, Niagara-based Rocketship Park was formed and shortly after that they released Block Droppin’. Now the gang have updated their puzzle game, and released Block Droppin Blitz on iOS:

Slide blocks to make shapes. Drop shapes to score points. But be careful about where those shapes end up!

Block Droppin’ is the latest fast-paced puzzle game to train your brain and test your reflexes. Combining elements of sliding tiles, falling blocks, and old school puzzle games, Block Droppin’ takes quick wits and concentration, so make sure your sliding skills are up to the task!

CEO Jim Squires took to medium to write up about the first game, and why the latest game isn’t free-to-play anymore. Block Droppin Blitz can be picked up on iOS right here for $2.99.

Ubisoft To Stop Selling Physical Toys For Starlink Battle for Atlas - Promises New Digital Content

Starlink Battle for Atlas came out last year for Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC and it looks like sales of the physical toys that connect with the game hasn’t been doing that well. Ubisoft announced on the official blog that sales for the space adventure game haven’t met their exceptions (something we’ve discussed on the podcast a lot) and that physical toys will no longer be produced.

It’s not all bad news however, as there will be new ships, weapons, pilots to collect - they will just be digital. You can check out the full post below.

Pilots of the Starlink Initiative,

Thank you so much for the warm response to the new Starlink content announced during the February Nintendo Direct.

With the announcement of new content arriving this April, we felt that it is important to provide an update on the topic of physical toys. Starlink: Battle for Atlas has been a passion project for us from the start, and we are incredibly proud of the modular Starship technology we have developed, and how well players have responded to it.

Despite the immense and continuous support from our players, the sales for Starlink: Battle for Atlas fell below expectations. Consequently, we recently made the decision to not release any additional physical toys for the Spring update and in the future.

As part of our effort to do right by our passionate and dedicated community we are currently hard at work on our biggest update to the game so far and are pleased to tell all of you that there will be new digital ships, pilots and weapons to collect.

Additionally, there will be a ton of free content to expand your games such as additional missions, challenges and new activities to engage in throughout Atlas, including content that was inspired by community suggestions, such as Outlaw Racing.

We're very grateful for the support we have received from players around the world and can't wait for everyone to get their hands on our next big update launching this April.

We'll see you in the stars,

Starlink Development Team

Way of the Passive Fist Coming To Nintendo Switch

Toronto developer Household Games is joining the Switch-port crew and releasing their 90’s brawler inspired Way of the Passive Fist to Nintendo Switch on April 11th. It looks like the game is listed at $18.99 CAD on the Nintendo eshop.

If you can’t wait until April 11th, you can pick up the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC where it launched this time last year. Check out the trailer and press release below.

Reverse Brawler Way Of The Passive Fist Comes to Nintendo Switch on April 11

Toronto, ON. March 28, 2019. Indie devs Household Games announced today that the genre-bending defensive brawler Way of the Passive Fist is coming to Nintendo Switch. At a glance the game is full of 90's beat-em-up aesthetics with sprites that dwarf Battletoads or Final Fight, but a closer look reveals the game's clever twist: the player parries, dodges, and reverses attacks to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where exhaustion equals death.

Instead of punching and kicking through hordes of nameless thugs, watch for openings, time your parries, and shoot for that high score. The game's addictive stage-by-stage gameplay is perfect for the pickup and play nature of the console, and brings all its pixel art glory in handheld or docked mode. The bombastic, pulse-pounding soundtrack is the icing on the sand-and-sweat covered cake, and if the feeling of knocking back waves of enemies on top of a speeding train to a wailing electric guitar doesn't scream "arcade experience," we don't know what does.

With a fully customizable difficulty setting (no easy, medium, or hard here!), and a refreshing take on classic beat-em-up gameplay, Way of the Passive Fist is a brand new experience for action-loving Nintendo Switch players. 

Features

- Customizable difficulty setting lets players decide how many enemies appear at a time, how hard they hit, how forgiving the combo counter is, and even how many checkpoints there are.

- Contains all the content from Way of The Passive Fist's NEW DAWN Edition, including a brand new training mode to let you practice and perfect your parries.

- Procedural roguelite survival mode "Passiverse" challenges the most calm masters to stay alive amidst an unpredictable set of challenges.

- Hours of content with Story, New Dawn Epilogue, and Passiverse, plus new difficulty settings that dictate new ways to play. Try for a playthrough of super-difficult enemies or minimal checkpoints.

About Household Games Inc.

Founded in 2016 by Jason Canam and based in Toronto, Canada, Household Games is an independent studio focused on creating high-quality and stylized original IP content for consoles and PC. The small team made up of DrinkBox Studios, Queasy Games, and Silicon Knights alumni are combining forces, and their passions, to develop video games that are fun and accessible for all ages and ability levels. Household Games launched their debut title, Way of the Passive Fist, in early March 2018.

Final Episode Of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Legacy of the First Blade Out Now

The third and final episode of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s first DLC chapter is out now. Titled ‘Bloodline’ - players with the Season Pass can download it across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Check out the trailer and press release below.

Everything has led to this moment in your conflict against the Order of the Ancients. Put your differences with Darius aside to stop the evil forces hunting you once and for all in the final episode of Legacy of the First Blade! #AssassinsCreedOdyssey. Website - http://ubi.li/c6d7e https://www.facebook.com/assassinscre...

EXPERIENCE THE CONCLUSION TO ASSASSIN’S CREED® ODYSSEY LEGACY OF THE FIRST BLADE

Protect the Assassin’s Legacy in Bloodline, the Final Episode of Legacy of the First Blade, Available Now

Montreal — March 5, 2019 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Bloodline, the final episode of the first post-launch story arc of Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey Legacy of the First Blade, is now available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC.

In Bloodline, the third and final episode of Legacy of the First Blade, our hero will finally face the mysterious villain who has been playing puppet master throughout the story arc. After a brutal attack, players will try to protect the Assassin’s legacy by fighting against those who are trying to eradicate the Tainted Ones.

Each episode of Legacy of the First Blade features a new ability for each branch of the skill tree: Hunter, Warrior and Assassin. While the first two episodes introduced new Assassin and Hunter abilities, this third and final episode will present players with a new Warrior ability, Fury of the Bloodline. It will allow players to unleash a series of devastating blows with the Spear of Leonidas, increasing the number of attacks with each level.

To access Bloodline, players must have completed Hunted and Shadow Heritage, the first and second episodes of Legacy of the First Blade, and the Naxos questline in Chapter 7 of the main story of the game and must have reached character level 28 or above.

The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey post-launch plan is the biggest and most ambitious in the franchise, and the launch of Legacy of the First Blade is just the beginning for players who wish to progress further with new content in Ancient Greece. Season pass owners will access two major episodic storylines, Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. Players can dive into new episodes as they premiere, or experience the epic adventures in their entirety once all episodes are available. The season pass also includes Assassin’s Creed® III Remastered and Assassin’s Creed® III Liberation Remastered and will be released on March 29 on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC.

The Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Season Pass includes the two story arcs, Legacy of the First Blade and The Fate of Atlantis, and can be purchased for $49.99. Legacy of the First Blade is also available separately for $34.99. The full story arc of Legacy of the First Blade is now downloadable for players who already own the season pass or the Gold Edition. The first episode of the second story arc, The Fate of Atlantis, will release in late April.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, please visit assassinscreed.com.

For the latest on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

© 2018–2019 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries.

Podcast Episode 105 and Interview With Dragon Slumber

As you know, we do a (mostly) bi-weekly podcast, and interviews with Canadian game developers. Here are the latest below!

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or SoundCloud. And Patron's at the $4+ level got this episode 2-3 days early.

Monster Slaying Puzzle Game '4096 Slayer' Out Now On iOS and Android

Developer Maple Mana (aka Dan Currie) have released a new monster slaying puzzle game on iOS and Android - ‘4096 Slayer’ takes a unique spin on 2048 this time adding monsters, where everytime you kill the strongest one, a new one appears twice as strong. Check out the trailer below and download the game on iOS and Android devices.

Available now on iOS and Android! https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/4096-slayer/id1452080358?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maplemana.a4096slayer&pcampaignid=MKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1 Can you slay the dragon? You'll first have to slay spiders, orcs, trolls, dark wizards and more! 4096 Slayer is a monster slaying puzzle game. Every monster you slay increases your level and you can only slay monsters with a lower level than you.

Tech Support: Error Unknown Releases February 27th On Steam

Dragon Slumber, the indie developer Quebec, will be releasing their latest game Tech Support: Error Unknown on Steam this Wednesday February 27th. In the game you’ll play as a new Quasar Telecommunications support agent - and while resolving customers issues you’ll fine yourself in the middle of a conspiracy.

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. 

You can check out the Steam page for the game right here. Trailers and screenshots below. We sat down with Kevin Giguère to talk about the game which is up on Patreon right now, and be up for everyone else tomorrow before the games release.

Tech Support: Error Unknown is coming February 27! Wishlist Tech Support: Error Unknown 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.

Worse Than Death - The Next Game From The Developer Behind Alone With You, and Home

Benjamin Rivers, the developer behind 2012’s Home, and 2016’s Alone With You has announced his latest - Worse Than Death, for PlayStation 4, Switch, Steam, and iOS. The game will be an emotional thriller about a high school reunion that goes horribly wrong.

“Run for your life, hide in the shadows, and use your wits to avoid terrible enemies and solve a mystery that sees you trapped in your home town.

Worse Than Death fuses a page-turning, pulp horror story with action-adventure gameplay.”

A scary, emotional thriller about a high school reunion that goes horribly wrong! Worse Than Death is the chilling follow-up to indie horror hit Home, and it's coming soon to PlayStation 4! + OFFICIAL Website: http://www.worsethandeathgame.com + Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/benjaminrivers Rated Mature: Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference

We don’t have a release date yet, but we’re told it will be soon. In the meantime, you can hit up the developers Discord channel to catch a prequel story, and vote on what happens next!

Excited for #WorseThanDeath? Then boy do we have news for you.

Join the official @discordapp server to read an exclusive prequel story — and even vote on what happens! We're writing and illustrating it from now until launch!

👉 https://t.co/uO70wFB5Ma#horror #indiegame pic.twitter.com/JtIU58QY4m

— Benjamin Rivers 💀 GDC (@BenjaminRivers) February 20, 2019

Blue Isle Studios Releasing Valley On Switch In March

Continuing the trend of Canadian games being ported to Switch, Blue Isle Studios have announced their first person adventure game Valley is hitting the Nintendo Switch next month on March 7th. Valley was originally released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2016, and we did a small interview with the games composer which you can check out here.

Mark your calendars folks, it's happening!

We are SO excited to announce that Valley is coming to #NintendoSwitch on Thursday, March 7, 2019 🍃✨ @NintendoAmerica @NintendoEurope @NintendoAUNZ https://t.co/DIXqBoYiFE pic.twitter.com/yTm4oKncGl

— Blue Isle Studios (@BlueIsleStudio) February 19, 2019

Valley is a First-Person adventure unlike any other. Hidden deep within a remote region of the Rocky Mountains, you find yourself bewildered within a secluded valley. With the power of a recently discovered L.E.A.F. suit (Leap Effortlessly though Air Functionality), run and jump your way through beautiful forests, dangerous ruins and vast environments; all the while utilizing the power to control life and death to uncover the startling secrets of the mysterious valley.

Guildmaster Story Out Now On iOS and Android

Little Red Lie, and Actual Sunlight developer Will O’Neill has released his latest, this time a free-to-play narrative puzzle game on iOS and Android devices. Will promises that “Guildmaster Story will delight everyone who ever worked an unpaid internship, got steamrolled by the sharing economy, or suspects that the people responsible for it all are precisely who they seem to be.” There will also be new episodic content in 2019, so make sure to download today.

Excited to announce the release of GUILDMASTER STORY, a free-to-play puzzle-match comedy game about fame, misfortune, and working for nothing.

iOS App Store: https://t.co/uETfpUpUaK
Google Play Store: https://t.co/MxmjrpQtLT

Please RT! pic.twitter.com/49kqwXeCQw

— Will O'Neill (@willoneill) February 18, 2019

Far Cry New Dawn Out Now On PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

The latest Far Cry is out now - Far Cry New Dawn, which takes players 17 years following the events of Far Cry 5 is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. I’ve been playing it on Twitch and enjoying it a lot! Check out the launch trailer below.

Far Cry New Dawn is available this Friday, February 15, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Pre-Order now for $39.99 at FarCry.com/Buy SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/UbisoftYouTubeChannel Visit our official channels for more Far Cry: https://far-cry.ubisoft.com/ https://www.facebook.com/farcry.usa https://www.instagram.com/farcrygame_us/ https://twitter.com/FarCrygame https://youtube.com/ubisoftNA Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed.

FAR CRY® NEW DAWN NOW AVAILABLE

Face Off Against The Twins, Mickey and Lou, in a Vibrant Post-Apocalyptic Sequel for $49.99

Montreal — February 15, 2019 — Today Ubisoft released Far Cry® New Dawn, the newest installment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise. Set in a breathtaking and colorful post-apocalyptic world, Far Cry New Dawn is now available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC for $49.99. Far Cry New Dawn is rated M for Mature.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Kiev and Ubisoft Bucharest, Far Cry New Dawn is a first-person shooter set in a completely open world. Far Cry New Dawn thrusts players into a brilliant post-apocalyptic setting where they will encounter a dual threat – The Twins, Mickey and Lou. Players can recruit an eclectic cast of Guns and Fangs for Hire, or a Friend for Hire for co-op play, to experience unpredictable, unforgettable Far Cry Moments where anything can happen.

Seventeen years after a global nuclear event dramatically transformed the world, Far Cry New Dawn thrusts players into a wildly beautiful and dangerous environment reclaimed by nature and characterized by a vibrant superbloom. As the captain of security for a man named Thomas Rush, players will arrive in Hope County to help the Survivors of the nuclear catastrophe fight back against a marauding band of Highwaymen. The new villains, The Twins Mickey and Lou, grew up in the lawless post-apocalyptic frontier and their only philosophy is to live for today. Each with their own distinct approach, together The Twins provide both the brains and brawn to lead the Highwaymen and solve the problems they face… in any way they see fit.

Players must help the Survivors grow stronger by upgrading the Homebase, called Prosperity. As players progress, they can upgrade the Homebase to craft more powerful weapons and gear, as well as face off against higher ranking enemies through Far Cry New Dawn’s “light RPG” gameplay mechanics. Along the way players will encounter a mix of new and familiar faces, including new furry companions Timber the Akita and Horatio the boar. New to the franchise, players can also venture to replayable locations called Expeditions, set in unique locations across America. These snatch-and-grab missions will let players acquire valuable resources and get out – quickly.

Far Cry New Dawn is available in the following editions:

Far Cry New Dawn Standard Edition - $49.99

• Includes Base Game

Far Cry New Dawn Deluxe Edition - $69.99

• Includes Base Game + Deluxe Pack (Knight Pack, Hurk Legacy Pack, M133M Shotgun, RAT4 Rocket Launcher)

Far Cry New Dawn Complete Edition - $129.99

• Includes Far Cry New Dawn Deluxe Edition & Far Cry® 5

Far Cry New Dawn Ultimate Edition - $169.99

• Includes Far Cry New Dawn Deluxe Edition & Far Cry 5 Gold Edition

For more information about Far Cry New Dawn, please visit farcry.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/farcry.usa and on Twitter at twitter.com/farcrygame or hashtag #FarCryNewDawn.

For the latest on Far Cry New Dawn and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.

ABOUT UBISOFT

Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2017–18 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,732 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoft.com.

© 2018–2019 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Far Cry, Ubisoft, and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Based on Crytek’s original Far Cry directed by Cevat Yerli.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas Getting More Starfox Content In An Upcoming Update

During today’s Nintendo Direct it was announced that Starlink: Battle for Atlas will be getting another update, and it’ll include some extra Starfox content. You’ll be able to play as Falco, Peppy, and Slippy taking on Star Wolf’s crew. The new update is expected in April, and can check out the direct below.

Star Fox content starts at 13:58.

Watch exclusive Nintendo news-broadcast directly to you, the player! Got a favorite from the Direct? Click to it! 0:12 - Super Mario Maker 2 1:37 - Yoshiaki Koizumi Intro 2:18 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order 3:42 - BOX BOY! + BOX GIRL! 4:45 - Super Smash Bros.

Ubisoft Celebrates Year 4 Of Rainbow Six Siege With A Free-To-Play Weekend And New Editions

Got this press release from our friends at Ubisoft, which basically details the fourth year of Rainbow Six Siege along with new editions, and a free to play weekend on February 14th-17th. Check out below or on the official website for the full details.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES NEW LINE UP OF EDITIONS FOR TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE YEAR 4 ALONG WITH FREE WEEKEND FROM FEBRUARY 14

Description:

Today, Ubisoft announced that Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege will be available to play for free from February 14 to 17*. This Free Weekend is the perfect occasion for newcomers to join the Rainbow Six Siege community. This Free Weekend also comes with up to 70% discounts on the game on all platforms starting today. For more information on the Free Weekend, please visit the Rainbow Six Siege official website. 

In the meantime, Ubisoft also announced details around the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Edition, Deluxe Edition, Gold Edition, and Ultimate Edition, to support the start of brand new content for Year 4 of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. Players can purchase the new editions starting today. All current Year 4 editions will see a price reduction. 

Year 4 of Rainbow Six Siege will introduce permanent DLC Operator Price Reductions, through the implementation of a scaling DLC operator pricing system. Older DLC Operators will be less expensive and more easily unlocked. 

For all Rainbow Six Siege Starter Edition owners, they will be converted to the progression system for unlocking the original 20 Legacy operators, for more information on this and the DLC Operator Price Reductions please visit the Rainbow Six Siege official website. 

Additional Year 4 Editions line-up details are available below:

Starter Edition

The PC Starter Edition is being removed from digital stores. All current owners of the Starter Edition will be automatically upgraded to the Rainbow Six Siege Edition. For current Starter Edition owners, all progression and content previously unlocked will be carried over. By removing the Starter Edition, all new players save approximately 150 hours unlocking all base operators at the current progression system rates.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 

The Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege edition provides access to all maps and content and reintroduces the progression system for unlocking all 20 Legacy operators. This edition will cost $26.99 and is available on PC.

Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition includes all content from the Rainbow Six Siege Edition alongside all Year 1 Operators. This edition will be available for $39.99 on PC, $49.99 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Gold Edition

The Gold Edition provides all the benefits of the Deluxe Edition plus the Year 4 Pass, which grants early access to all 8 Year 4 Operators. Click here to discover all benefits of the Year 4 Pass. This edition will be available for $79.99 on PC, $89.99 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One 

Ultimate Edition

The Ultimate Edition unlocks all Operators in-game through the end of Year 3, as well as the benefits of the Year 4 Pass (Operators included). This version grants access to all 52 existing Operators, including every DLC Operator. Click here to discover all benefits of the Year 4 Pass. This editions will be available for $129.99 on PC, $139.99 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

The full reveal of Season 4 of Year 4, Operation Burnt Horizon, will take place in Montreal at the Six Invitational 2019 on Sunday February 17. Watch it live at 1:30 pm EST at https://www.twitch.tv/rainbow6

For more information on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, please visit www.rainbow6.com

Guest Post - Five Canadian-made Indie Switch Games That Flew Under The Radar In 2018

The follow post was written by Poutine & Pixels, who you can follow on Twitter. They specialize in highlighting Canadian-made games on Switch.

 If you’re anything like me, you’ve been giving a bit of extra time to playing games lately, what with the “go outside only if you want to die” weather. I’ve taken this time to catch up on Canadian-made Switch games released in 2018 that slid under my attention, largely due to my being distracted by ridiculously popular Canadian titles like Celeste and The Messenger.

 The Nintendo Switch has been a jolt of adrenaline for many indie games and developers. It’s not uncommon to hear of games being given a fresh surge of sales on the Switch, or developers finding the boost needed to stay in business - like Castle Pixel, the Canadian-American dev combo behind the hit Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King, who have been very public in their praise of the game’s sales figures on Nintendo Switch, allowing them to continue making games.

 We’re approaching a full two years since the launch of the Switch in March of 2017, and the wave of great games coming to the Switch is showing no sign of slowing down. With over 85 Canadian-made titles now available or announced for the Switch, it’s not a surprise that some have been released to less media coverage than they deserve.

Here are the top 5 Canadian-made indie titles on the Switch that may have flown under your radar in 2018:

Just Shapes & Beats

Just Shapes & Beats, the game about shapes, and beats. Once nominated for the most self explanatory game title of all time, didn't win. Coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch May 31st 2018... finally!

 Just Shapes & Beats from Quebec developers Berzerk Studio was featured in the March 2018 Nindies Showcase. It’s no surprise Nintendo wanted to highlight the game, as it is an absolute blast to play with friends. The eShop page describes it as “a chaotic co-op musical bullet-hell”, which makes it sound a lot more complicated than it actually is - dodge the shapes to addictive music, then die because this game can be tough as nails.

I took this game to a party on the day of its release, and it took over the TV for the duration of the night. If you’re a fan of rhythm or bullet hell games, don’t pass over this one.

 View Just Shapes & Beats on the Canadian eShop

Light Fall

Light Fall is a precision platformer that gives you the ability to place a block, called a Shadow Core, beneath you to assist in speeding across the world. Québec developers Bishop Games combine excellent minimalist art design with very pretty parallax scrolling effects to create a wonderful world to explore, and there’s plenty of hidden paths and secrets to encourage you to take a peak in every nook and cranny.

Light Fall also incorporates a Speedrun Game Mode, allowing you to compete with other runners worldwide with an online leaderboard. This game was also featured at GDQ 2019, and I’d love to see it pop up again at future events!

This platforming adventure takes players to the forgotten world of Numbra, where they'll have to master their surroundings by manipulating the Shadow Core, a magical box used to propel them into the air. In Speedrun Mode, players can race their friends or even the fastest players in the world to place on the online leaderboards.

View Light Fall on the Canadian Nintendo eShop 

Pizza Titan Ultra

 Look, if your game comes with a main menu that has a theme song with robot voice-over and a karaoke sing-along bar, I’m going to buy it sight unseen. While the list of games that fit that requirement consists solely of Pizza Titan Ultra, that doesn’t detract from my conviction to that statement.

Developed by Breakfall in Ottawa, Pizza Titan Ultra has you playing a giant robot that delivers pizza throughout a futuristic city while dodging a myriad of enemies and trying to collect as much cash as possible. It’s one part Crazy Taxi, one part Gundam, and zero parts pineapple on pizza because that is an abomination and you should be ashamed.

Pizza Titan Ultra is a fast paced 3rd-person action platformer focused on fighting and smashing through a futuristic city, in a giant mech, to deliver pizza. Experience arcadey action with speedy attacking and dodging, while attempting to control the massive weight of a 10 storey mobile pizzeria - just try not to make too much of a mess!

 View Pizza Titan Ultra on the Canadian Nintendo eShop

Battle Princess Madelyn

Battle Princess Madelyn is heavily, heavily inspired by Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. Fully funded on Kickstarter in 2017 in just a few days, Battle Princess Madelyn by Nova Scotia developers Causal Bit Games was released at the end of 2018.

#BattlePrincessMadelyn will now release on the following dates:

Switch (NA) Releases 20th December 2018
PlayStation 4 (NA) Releases 20th December 2018

Switch (EU/AUS) 7th January 2019
PlayStation 4 (EU/AUS) to be confirmed 2019

Huge thanks to our fans for your understanding! pic.twitter.com/y9xMOYQOp7

— Causal Bit Games (@CausalBitGames) December 18, 2018

Although I found the story mode to be a bit lacking, Battle Princess Madelyn’s arcade mode has kept me coming back for more. It’s perfect for the Switch’s portable mode, and is exactly the sort of title that I want to pick up for a few moments whenever I have the chance. If you have fond memories of Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts, I would highly recommend giving this game a look.

 View Battle Princess Madelyn on the Canadian Nintendo eShop

Full Metal Furies

Full Metal Furies by Toronto-based developers Cellar Door Games was released on PC and Xbox in January 2018. After months of waiting, both Full Metal Furies and their insanely popular 2013 title Rogue Legacy were released on the Nintendo Switch last November.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why Full Metal Furies hasn’t garnered even a fraction of the attention that Rogue Legacy did - it’s an excellently designed action RPG with gorgeous artwork, online and couch co-op, and sterling player and media reviews. While it may have escaped wider attention upon initial release, this title is one that any co-op gaming fan should take a look at.

The acclaimed rogue-lite Rogue Legacy, and the Puzzle Brawler Full Metal Furies is coming to the Nintendo Switch on November 6th, 2018. **Full Metal Furies will be 25% off between November 6th to November 25th on the Nintendo eShop. Check out more about the games here: http://cellardoorgames.com/ http://www.cellardoorgames.com/roguelegacy/ http://cellardoorgames.com/our-games/full-metal-furies/ http://cellardoorgames.com/presskit/

 View Full Metal Furies on the Canadian Nintendo eShop

Certain Affinity Opening Up Studio In Toronto

Certain Affinity the Austin Texas based developer who have worked with some of the major studios and franchises including Halo, Call Of Duty, and Doom have announced they’ll be opening up a studio right here in Toronto. The new studio, which opens this month, will be support the Austin studio which is currently working on an original IP, a sci-fi co-op FPS titled ‘Last Expedition”. You can check out all the details in the press release below.

CERTAIN AFFINITY ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF A NEW TORONTO STUDIO

New Studio to support AAA development of Certain Affinity games

 January 30, 2019 (Austin, TX) – Certain Affinity, the largest independent video game developer in Austin, today announced that it will be opening a second development location in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Certain Affinity has a proven track-record developing innovative, triple-A action games, including both original titles and co-development of games in blockbuster franchises like “Call of Duty,” “Halo,”, “DOOM,” and “Left 4 Dead.” Certain Affinity’s new studio will be opening in February in the Fashion District in the heart of downtown Toronto. To select the right location for its new office, Certain Affinity worked closely with Toronto Global, a team of experienced business advisors assisting global businesses to expand into the Toronto Region.

 Certain Affinity recently celebrated its 12th anniversary; during its history it has developed or co-developed 29 products across 12 different franchises, with more than 100 million units sold. The new Toronto location will support the Austin studio currently developing an ambitious original title as well as an original IP game, “Last Expedition,” which is a sci-fi co-op FPS.

 “Toronto is becoming a hub for game development with its progressive and multicultural environment and its thriving design and technical talent pool,” said Max Hoberman, Certain Affinity’s President and Founder. “We have built a company not only with top talent and benefits, but also with one of the game industry’s most inclusive and diverse cultures, and we look forward to bringing this mindset to our new Toronto studio and to being a positive member of the Toronto business community.”

 The new studio, which is expected to ramp up to 60 developers later this year, will be a fully integrated extension of the Austin office, which currently has more than 170 full-time employees. Historically, Certain Affinity has been known for development and co-development on other studios’ titles. While maintaining its core co-development business, the company has recently shifted its focus to lead game development, with a model of developing games as a service, available online and continuously updated with new features and content.

 “The Toronto Region is drawing the attention of the world for its emerging digital media and game development sectors, its diverse and welcoming community and dynamic cultural scene,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “I’m thrilled that Certain Affinity will call Toronto home, create jobs for our talented residents and contribute to our reputation as a global centre for innovation, creativity and economic growth. Welcome to the Toronto Region!”

 Certain Affinity is seeking a variety of skilled and passionate team members to join the company in Austin and Toronto, including artists, engineers, designers, producers, and more. Anyone interested in joining this growing independent AAA game developer can see a list of current job openings at certainaffinity.com/careers.

 About Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity (CA) was founded in 2006 as a bootstrap startup with the goal of creating innovative, top-quality action games. CA brings together an exceptionally experienced, unusually talented group to form one of the largest independent game developers in Austin, Texas. The company’s 170+ full-time employees include veterans from dozens of successful game studios, with Max Hoberman, CA’s founder and former Multiplayer and Online Lead for the Halo series, serving as President.