Preview: Fortified From Clapfoot Games

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Last week, my girlfriend and I got to play Fortified from Clapfoot Games, a third person shooter with tower defence elements.  We managed to play the first five levels of the campaign, and while there were bugs and oddities in the early build, the game is shaping up to be a solid offering from the Toronto developer.

Personally, I've never played a game like this. A mix of fast-paced third person shooting, and strategic tower defence building. The beautiful classic-looking comic book style cinematics introduce you to the 1950's USA where you must defend your rocket ship from waves of aliens.  You choose from four different classes, including the Agent who is sort of your machine gun/assault character, and Rocket Scientist who is your explosives expert.  Once this is done you can pick your loadout of weapons and tools. To start out you only have a few weapons at your disposal, but as levels progress you can upgrade your current weapons or buy new ones.

The first level starts off pretty slow and steady, while the designs of future levels include multiple spawn points, and paths for aliens and multiple rockets to protect, the first level is a small alleyway with a small route to the rocket where you can set up your turrets, mortars, snipers and more.  Your characters control tight, and with the lack of a cover mechanic, it's meant to be a fast-paced shooter which is does really well.  Placing your defensive items is quick and easy, and upgrade points let you customize your play-style.

Co-op was key for us. At first we had evenly spent our upgrade points to both include anti-air and ground attacks, while also splitting the map to have one person cover each side. After some mission failures, we decided to focus our points and spread our attacks evenly through the map which saw greater success. The game does include up to four player online co-op, and while the game doesn't have split-screen, two player online was really silky smooth.

Check out this brand new trailer for Fortified, the team defense shooter set in a retro sci-fi universe. Meet Fortified's four pulp inspired hero classes!

Fortified was a lot of fun and now one of my most anticipated games. It is currently slated for an early 2016 release on Xbox One (which is the build we played), and Steam. You can follow the developer on Twitter, and stay tuned to TorontoGameDevs.com for the latest on Fortified as we get closer to its release.

Monster Masher

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A couple of my friends out of Ottawa, Ontario made a simple, but addicting mobile game for the Halloween season called Monster Masher. The concept is simple protect your pumpkin from hordes of monsters just by tapping them, and rule the leader boards.

Download the game by clicking one of the following links: Android or Apple or Windows

 

Happy Halloween! 3 Spooky Toronto Developed Games To Play

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Happy Halloween! Do you need to spookify your Saturday? Check out these three Toronto developed games, guaranteed to give you chills*.

Feed Bat Boy from YahManGames

Feed Bat Boy is an infinite runner where you play as a bat feeding on flies. Similar to Flappy Bird, what is scarier than a bat flying into your hair? Nothing. I hate bats. Pick up the game for free on iOS or Android.

Phantom PI Mission Apparition from Rocket 5 Studios

Recently announced for Apple TV, Phantom Pi sets you up as a paranormal investigator investigating a spooky haunted mansion.  You can download the game on iOS.

They Bleed Pixels from Spooky Squid Games

To be fair, as mentioned to me on Twitter, most of Spooky Squid Games can count as spooky. It's in their name! But let's talk about They Bleed Pixels which is a platformer where you play as a girl who is haunted by a 'mysterious book and her violent Lovecraftian nightmares.'  You can get the game on Steam.

Alto's Adventure Ready For Apple TV Launch

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Alto's Adventure, the 2d skiing infinite runner on iOS, is available now for the Apple TV launch (which is today).  The game comes with patch 1.2 which includes iCloud syncing, and MFi Game Controller support.  You can check out the trailer below if you're not familiar with the game.

Alto's Adventure is an endless snowboarding odyssey, set against a beautiful and ever changing alpine landscape. Download on the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/altos-adventure/id950812012?ls=1&mt=8&at=11lrPB&ct=yt http://altosadventure.com http://www.twitter.com/altosadventure http://www.facebook.com/altosadventure

The game is available on iOS right now and is now the second game I've been told about making the jump to Apple TV.  Make sure to check out the blog post for the full details, and follow the game on Twitter.

Phantom PI Mission Apparition Avaliable For Apple TV Launch

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Toronto developer Rocket 5 Studios let me know their game Phantom PI Mission Apparition will be available for the 4th Generation Apple TV launch.  This version will have HD textures, and improved lighting. It will also support the Siri Remote, and MFi Bluetooth controllers.

"In a mansion dripping with mystery and fraught with danger, a poltergeist lurks. Only the Phantom PI can save the day by restoring peace to beloved zombie-ghost rocker Marshall Staxx’s after-life. Play as Cecil or Cecilia, paranormal investigator to the ghostly stars while exploring spooky Ravensmaw Manor. Look for clues, hunt for sprites, and solve diabolical puzzles in this charming puzzle game that’s sure to provide hours of great family-friendly fun."

Now available on iOS for iPhone & iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phantom-pi-mission-apparition/id887608596?ls=1&mt=8 The Phantom PI Mission Apparition is a spooky, puzzly, rock'n'roll fueled adventure game starring a paranormal investigator who specializes in helping ghosts who are being bullied in the afterlife.

The game is currently available on iOS which you can get right here.  It is $2.99 currently, but the Apple TV version will be free if you have already purchased the game.

Make sure to follow the developer on Twitter to stay up to date.  Do you plan on picking up Apple TV at launch?

Drinkbox Studios Looking For Playertesters For Severed

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Lots of developers have been asking for playtesters lately, and now we have another!  Drinkbox Studios is looking for playtesters for Severed, and this time, you will be compensated!

Those interested can go to the Google survey, but make sure to also follow Drinkbox on Twitter.

Cally's Cave 3 On Steam Greenlight

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The free to play mobile platformer Cally's Cave 3 is making its way to Steam. You can check out the Steam Greenlight page to vote for it. Make sure to also check out a new trailer below:

Vote for us on Greenlight!! http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=543104967 It's time for the epic battle to save your parents! Cally's parents have been abducted, as her arch-enemy Herbert has taken control of the Caves to perform his evil experiments. Join Cally and her friends in this action-packed run and gun platformer, conquering insane bosses, exploring to find secrets, and levelling up EVERYTHING.

Make sure to follow the developer on Twitter to keep up to date and vote for the game on Steam. Let us know in the comments!

IGN Shows Off First 18 Minutes Of Below

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Toronto developer Capybara Games is being featured on IGN at the moment, which includes the first 18 minutes of their adventure game Below.  You can check out the full video below:

Check out the gorgeous and deadly opening of the much-anticipated Xbox One game.

Below does not have a release date yet, but is planned for Steam and Xbox One. You can follow the game on the website, as well as Capybara's Twitter.

TorontoGameDevs.com Will Be Doing Extra-Life! Join Our Team!

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What are you doing November 7th? Playing games? Well you might as well play games for 24 hours and raise money for kids!

Extra-Life is a 24 hours gaming marathon, where people around the world game, stream, and promote gaming while collecting donations for a charity of your choice. This year, I'll be doing it in the name of Sick Kids Toronto Hospital.

You can join the team by going to our team page.  If you want to read more about the cause make sure you check out this link.  I'll probably be playing mostly Toronto developed games, but I am open to suggestions. Let us know in the comments, or on Twitter if you'll be joining in. Anyone else participating I'll be sure to post here.


Toronto Game Developers At Indiecade

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The IndieCade Festival is this weekend, and there are plenty of Toronto and local developed video games there. So if you're at the event, make sure to check out the games on this list! I'll be sure to add to this list as I find out more.

Plenty of developers from Dames Making Games.

At the PlayStation exhibit they'll have:

At the Nintendo exhibit Runbow will be there:

Is there more? Are you there and not on this list? Let me know on Twitter, or leave a comment.

Runbow Patch 1.02 Out Now On Wii U

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Runbow, the Toronto developer party platformer from 13AM Games, was just updated to version 1.02 on Wii U and is available for download right now.

ONLINE:

  • A bug that made most public online games not to have music has been fixed.
  • A bug that made online games never to end when the hosting player disconnected during the last match has been fixed.
  • A bug that made a countdown to start as soon as a Public game lobby was accessed, without enough people in the room, and closing the whole room when reaching 0, has been fixed.
  • A bug that made the timer in Public games not to restart after people left the character select screen has been fixed.
  • The minimum amount of players needed for Public games has been reduced from 5 to 4 in Run, and to 3 in King of the Hill and Arena.
  • To avoid players to spend an excessive time taunting in front of the trophy, when a single player is left alive the camera speed has been increased.

You can check out the full patch notes here.  13AM Games also said they are still working on the HDD issue.  They are asking to tweet at them the kind of HDD you're using if you're having issues while the game is on a portable harddrive.  Have you pick up Runbow yet?

Clapfoot Games Looking For Playtesters For Fortified

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Are you in the Toronto area for the next few weeks? Want to play the unreleased defence game Fortified?  Well, you're in luck because Clapfoot Games is looking for playtesters for their game.

Check out this brand new trailer for Fortified, the team defense shooter set in a retro sci-fi universe. Meet Fortified's four pulp inspired hero classes!

Those interested can check out the Eventbrite page, all you need to do is pick a time that works for you. 

Episode 3 Of LongStory Game Out Now

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LongStory Game, the episodic dating/adventure game, was recently updated with Episdoe 3. Titled 'The Party' the episode focuses on the party at Weasel Hieght:

Things are hopping at Weasel Heights. Colin is planning a fundraiser for the Brick Sharks and you need to decide who your date will be. Get ready to be delighted with new music, a new date and as always more drama as the story of Weasel Heights unfolds in the latest episode of LongStory game.

Make sure check out the full site for all the details, and follow the game on Twitter.  You can pick up the game on iOS and Android today.

Horrible Unicorn Game Studio Talks About New Perspective For Legacy of the Copper Skies

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Hot off the heals of a successful Square Enix Collective campaign, the developer out of Kitchener Ontario made the decision to change the players perspective of the battlefield.

"As we reviewed all the feedback we’d received from the voters and fans, a change in perspective seemed to make sense. Though we are certainly inspired by the great pixel-art adventure games that have come before us, there is so much new and different about Legacy of the Copper Skies that helps it stand out from what’s come before that we felt comfortable going with a traditional view."

Here is a screenshot of the old perspective:

And here are some screenshots of the new top-down perspective:

You can read all about the change in design over at the Horrible Unicorn Game Studios blog page.  Make sure to also give the developer a follow on Twitter to keep up to date on the game.

Trailer: Super Indie Karts Includes A Runbow Level

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Super Indie Kart, the 16-bit kart racer that features a wide range of characters from indie games, will include a Runbow level. The Australian developer One Legged Seagull has posted the trailer on their Youtube channel, which I've posted below.

Take up the challenge of Runbow Road! When the colour of the sky changes (which is every 6 seconds), the same colour on the track becomes a dangerous hole to avoid! Super Indie Karts is a '90s style kart racer available in Early Access on Steam (for Windows and Mac) and OUYA featuring racetrack and kart crossovers with a heap of super Indie Games.

Judging from the trailer, it will take Rainbow Road a run for its money.  You can follow the developer on Twitter, but also make sure to follow 13AM Games!