Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
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!
Valley from Blue Isle Studios, and Alone With You from Benjamin Rivers are out now. You can check out our the review for Alone With You here.
You can get Alone With You on PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. Valley is available on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Hey there! Two Toronto developed games came out today. I've already told you my thoughts on Alone With You, so here are my thoughts on Valley from Blue Isle Studio - full review incoming.
Until then, subscribe on Youtube!
Another week, another Week In Review. Check out the main stories from this week in Toronto GameDev news.
GamesCon is going on right now, so Ubisoft took the opportunity to release a new trailer for Watch Dogs 2, showcasing the online modes.
Read More"We told you BELOW would be out this summer. Our team worked hard to make that deadline a reality. But after a strong push, we’ve decided it isn’t ready."Read More
Developer Cococucumber have announced Riverbond, an action game that's coming out 2017 for PC and consoles.
Read MoreBlue Isle Studio has released a new extended trailer for Valley, which is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Originally announced for summer - we now know the first person shooter will be coming out August 24th.
"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"
If gamers are looking for more Toronto developed games in August, Benjamin Rivers' Alone With You launches the day before.
So we've picked up a Xbox One recently, mostly so I can play exclusives. One of those exclusives is Fortified from Clapfoot Games. I did a quick video on it, but I'm really enjoying the game, play it with a friend though because that's when the game shines.
Are you liking the videos? Let me know on Twitter what you want to see next!
According to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, the open world game Watch Dogs 2 could be one of the highest selling game in Ubisoft's history.
Read MoreI figured I would take this Canada Day (and half-way point of the year) to celebrate the Toronto developed games that have been released so far. They are in no particular order and I've tried to link to a page to buy them. If I'm missing one, make sure to let me know on Twitter.
Runbow: Satura's Space Adventure! from 13AM Games
Cally’s Caves 3 from VDOGames
Kapsul Infinite from Luke O'Connor
Hard Vacuum Lullaby from One More Story Games
Robo’s World: The Zarnok Fortress from Bluish-Green Productions and Throw Away Games
Robo's World: The Darnok Fortress came out on steam earlier this year and was available to patreon's
Severed from DrinkBox Studios
Far Cry Primal from Ubisoft
Fortified from Clapfoot Games
Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander from Massive Damage Inc
Real Army Simulator from The Really Serious Game Company
Dashy Square from Kastriot Sulejmani
Forbidden Dessert from Button Mash Games
Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime from Asteroid Base
We Are Doomed was a perfect fit on PlayStation Vita
Ace Academy: Black Flight from Illumination Games
Alto’s Adventure (Android) from Snowman
Cel Damage HD (Xbox) from Finish Line Games
Planktos from Blot Interactive
Sago Mini Trucks and Diggers from Sago Mini
Grumz from Picnic Game Labs
Block Swop from Wooly Walrus Games
Quick Drop from Wooly Walrus Games
pitfall planet won level up in 2015
Fantasy Tales Online from Cold Tea Studio
Shadow Heroes: Vengeance In Flames from Allied Games
AlphaPit from Shane McCafferty
Frank The Spider from Yahman Games
Congrats to all the developers on releasing their games, here's to a great back half of 2016. Happy Canada Day!
Chivalry 2, the hotly anticipated sequel which is coming to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S has gone gold ahead of its June 8th release date. The game, which will feature crossplay across the board, is also currently having an open Beta from May 27th to June 1st, the Beta is also cross-play enabled.
Triversal, the puzzle game from Toronto developer Phantom Compass has a release date, and thankfully we won’t have to wait that long. The game comes out on July 13th, and you can wishlist it on Steam here.
Toronto-based developer Snowman will be releasing their currently Apple-Arcade-only Skate City to Steam, Epic Game Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox on May 6th.
Having just released Mighty Fight Federation on PlayStation/Steam late last month, Komi Games is not done and have released their 3D brawler on Switch - and have included Cross-Play with all versions. you can pick up the game on Switch right here for $39.89.
Massive Damages Star Renegades, the rogue-lite RPG that is available on Xbox, and Steam, is out now on PlayStation. Currently going for $24.74 CAD with a PlayStation Plus discount, you can pick it up here.
Toronto developer Sticky Brain Studios have released Kimono on iOS and Google. The game has you designing kokeshi dolls with multiple seasonal patterns, hair styles, accessories and more.
Sokodice is a puzzle game where you must navigate dice through mind boggling levels to match the number of the dice with the number on a designated tile.
Toronto developer MegaPhemeral announced their upcoming Japanese inspired RPG Emergent Fates will be coming to iOS on July 7th. Offered as a “free-to-start”, and then a 5.99 USD price tag to unlock the game is currently up for preorder on the App Store.
P.A.M.E.L.A the Bioshock-inspired first-person shooter from Toronto based NVYVE Studios gets a full release on PC.
Hey everyone! So as I've been tweeting, I got to go to E3, and got to play a lot of great games. Some of those great games were developed in our own back yard. Here are some general thoughts I've had on them:
Cuphead from Studio MDHR
We've discussed this a few times on the podcast, but this game is beautiful. It's fluid and smooth, and it was great to confirm this in person. Platforming sections have just been announced and I got to play the section from the video we posted earlier. The game is certainly difficult, but the controls are easy to grasp and similar to Megaman games of the past. I think once you get the level design down, and the placement of enemies you'll be flying - it will be interesting to see how long this takes. Sadly I didn't get a chance to try out a boss, but the 10 minutes I played left a great impression.
Below from Capybara Games
E3 probably isn't the best place to play test a game like Below, especially if it's the first time you've ever played it. It deserves to be played in a dark room, with nothing else to get in the way with headphones on. You start the demo on a beach with your boat and before long you're going "below" in a mountain, fighting creatures and collecting items. The atmospheric and creepy music matched my actions perfectly, and there appears to be some sort of crafting system, but I didn't get a chance to try it out. Battling was similar to Legend of Zelda games of old, having a sword, shield, bow and arrow at your disposal, but with other weapons to pick up like a spear. Below is planned for this summer, and I would turn off the lights when you play.
Arrowheads from OddBird Studio
You don't have to travel to Los Angles to play OddBird Studios multiplayer shooter. You can download Arrowheads from their site right here, and when you do I recommend getting some friends to play along with. Think of it as a 3D Towerfall. The gang has added some extra levels since the last time I played it, and it's just as fun as ever. The art and animations are colourful, the gameplay is solid, and the game is just straight up a lot of fun to play. If you want to hear some further discussion on it, make sure to listen to Episode 22 of our podcast, but keep this one on your radar.
Remember that this article was a Patreon early exclusive, which means they got to read it first. Become a Patreon today.
Up until now, it was thought that Cuphead would be just a boss-rush type of game. That would of still been cool, but now Studio MDHR has shown off some platforming sections. You can check out the video below:
Cuphead is scheduled to release for Xbox One and PC this year. Last year they announced at E3 the delay, so hopefully we'll get the full scoop on the platforming shooter this year. Until then, follow the gang on Twitter, and listen to our podcast where we gush over the art.
With E3 right around the corner, developers are working on revealing their games in preparation for the big event. Ubisoft has announced Watch Dogs 2, the sequel to the open world game from two years ago and Ubisoft Toronto announced they're helping with the title.
We are so proud to join the @watchdogsgame development team and help build the beautiful game world of SF! https://t.co/Jk0x8e3GmP
— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) June 8, 2016
Watch Dogs 2 comes to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC November 15th. You can check out the full Ubisoft Blog for all the details.
Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) has announced that Vivid Foundry (@VividFoundry) has earned the Grand Prize and Kitten Cup Studio (@KittenCupStudio) has won the Special Prize in the 4th Indie Series, with Massive Damage (@massdmginc) getting an honourable distinction.
Okay, so I'm a little late on this one, but Studio MDHR was at PAX East last month and they met up with IGN to show off some new bosses, and shops in Cuphead. You can check out the trailer below, but also make sure to follow them on Twitter where they are posting some interesting factoids about the side scrolling shooter.
Cuphead Fact No.678: Even something as "simple" as this whistle animation is 51 hand drawn frames. pic.twitter.com/zQFHjFi9K0
— Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) May 2, 2016
#Cuphead Fact No. 679: The tornado summon animation has 38 frames. Lots of "motion blur" on this one. pic.twitter.com/h8DOEwpt7C
— Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) May 6, 2016
Montréal-based cooperative indie game studio @KOOPmode revealed their next game Young Suns in a 7-minute video premiered on YouTube.
Kitchener-based indie studio Fluxscopic have released their 2021 puzzle-loaded action adventure game Mayhem in Single Valley on consoles.
Saskatoon-based Foolish Mortals have released their turn-based strategy game Kaiju Wars on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (playable on PS5 and Xbox Series S|X).
Cuphead is celebrating its initial launch on PC and Xbox One 5 years ago today, September 29, with the announcement of a physical copy of the game coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Switch.
WB Games Montréal has announced that the last-gen (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) versions of their upcoming co-op action game Gotham Knights have been cancelled.
Toronto-based indie studio Bloom Digital (@Bloom_Digital_) are releasing their charming dating sim set in an old folks’ home Later Daters onto Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Canadian indie dev Dylan Meville (@DMeville) and Everglow Interactive have released their multiplayer party game @PartyPanicGame on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Lightning Rod Games (@LRGThunder) is bringing their heartfelt paper folding puzzle game A Fold Apart to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next week on May 19.
London-based indie studio Big Blue Bubble (@BigBlueBubble) announced that their 2D action-platformer Foregone is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One on October 5, 2020.
Vancouver-based The Coalition, along with England’s Splash Damage, will be releasing Gears Tactics on April 28th on PC, with an Xbox One version to come at a later date.
