Updated: Bee Odyssey Available for iOS and Android

Illumination Games is releasing Bee Odyssey, officially launching on March 28, 2017 on iOS and Android.  They created a fun and educational game for all ages.  Check out some screenshots and an updated gameplay trailer below.

“We are a game development studio that has partnered up with the Canada Agriculture & Food Museum to create Bee Odyssey, a fun all-ages mobile game that educates players about bees and their importance to our survival. Our intention is to create a mobile experience which draws attention to the risks and lives of honey bees. The game features real food sources, predators, hazards and environments which Honey Bees encounter (in the North East) and a field guide which includes additional reference information.”

You can follow Illumination games for updates on their social media pages:

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/illuminationgames/
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/illum_games
• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/illum_games/

Kings of Pool From Uken Games Out Now On iOS And Android

A game that has pretty much taken over most of my evenings was released on iOS and Android a few weeks back. Kings of Pool from our friends at Uken Games is a free to play billiard game that lets players create their own club and battle others online (make sure to join the TorontoGameDevs group!). You can download the game for free on iOS here, and Android here. Follow them on FaceBook is stay up to date on everything involving the game.

Thrive Games Posts New Screenshots for Dragon of Legends

The team at Thrive Games has been working on Dragons of Legends, an online action RPG.  They posted some screenshots of their progress, and the art is looking very beautiful.

No word of a release date yet, but you can follow them on Twitter, or on Facebook.

Metanet Software Would "Love To Bring [N++] To Switch"

Found this while browsing Reddit, but a fan asked Metanet Software on their FaceBook page the chances on a N++ Switch port. It sounds like they want to do it, but would just need help from Nintendo with porting, and cost.

"Just to clarify, we said we would LOVE to bring it to the Switch -- we still need to get Nintendo on board and find a team to help port it, and find the money to help pay for that :)

We think N++ would be so awesome on the Switch, so we're really hoping this works out! The more support we get from fans and players, saying they want N++ on the Switch, the better -- hopefully Nintendo will see understand how many people want this to happen and we'll be able to get the ball rolling."

Start tweeting at Nintendo, or emailing their support if you want to see N++ on Switch.

A Look At Some Local Student Games Going To LevelUp TO

Next month is the 7th annual LevelUp TO which is a gaming showcase for locally developed student games. Out friends at Oddbird Studios won it last year, and I'm excited to check out some of the games this year.

If you want a head start, check out some of the Tweets below - if you're a developer who will be there - tweet at my on Twitter and I'll update this story.

Valhalla Showdown is being showcased @LevelUpTO! bring your friends and be Ready to Dropkick your way to victory
@TorontoGameDevs

— Suplex Games (@Suplex_Games) March 21, 2017

DISCO IS DEAD! will be playable at @LevelUpTO! Be sure to bring a buddy! 👬 Also check out all the other awesome @sheridancollege games! 👏 https://t.co/qUmshLNs7r

— Disco is Dead! (@DiscoIsDeadGame) March 17, 2017

#DetectiveVR will be showcased @LevelUpTO!! Bring all your friends and play some awesome student-made games! #gamedev #indiedev #VR https://t.co/JNpbZvgn1r

— Sixty Forty Games (@SixtyFortyGames) March 17, 2017

Can't wait to show off the game that I've been working on with @5HorsemenGames for the last 8 months 😊 https://t.co/nDvY7WdtNJ

— Katherine Elliott (@elliottkat) March 17, 2017

Guess we're heading to Toronto in April!. #roadtrippin #indiedev #LevelUpTO pic.twitter.com/WUI4olFuce

— Paul Ungar (@PaulUngar) March 6, 2017

@TorontoGameDevs @gamedevs @LevelUpTO our @McMasterU game design class is aiming to demo our end of term team project! :)

— Daven Bigelow (@DavenBigelow) March 18, 2017

Let's Play Disc Jam (And Some Zelda Talk)

We're back again! This time instead of talking about Nintendo Switch in general, we talk about Legend of Zelda while playing Disc Jam online. Remember to subscribe!

Cellar Door Games Announces Full Metal Furies

Cellar Door Games has announced that Full Metal Furies will be coming in 2017.  They are the creators who brought us Rogue Legacy, which won the Best PlayStation Vita Game in 2014 on IGN.

Full Metal Furies is an RPG-laden action brawler for up to four players.  It is not an average brawler; this game has four character classes with their own skills and attacks, and a unique approach to cooperative play where certain enemies can only be damaged by certain players, requiring teamwork and communication.  Even single player mode allows for you to swap classes.

It will be available on Xbox One and Windows 10, and allows Xbox Play Anywhere and Cross Play support, meaning one purchase of the game will allow you to play both on your console and on Windows 10.

Check out the trailer here:

Let's Play Disc Jam

It's not Toronto developed, but Chris and I sat down to play some Disc Jam (free on PS+), and talk Nintendo Switch. Remember to subscribe on YouTube!

Severed Free For PlayStation Plus Members

I'm catching up here...but Drinkbox Studios first person RPG Severed is now a free PlayStation Plus game on Vita. This will be for the whole month of March, so make sure to pick it up before then - the game is also avaliable on iOS, 3DS and Wii U.

Nintendo Switch, New Job, And TorontoGameDevs.com - An Apology

You may of noticed that it's been quiet around the website lately. I've only posted a few times since the end of last month, and our Youtube page has been pretty inactive as well. I'm here to apologize for that.

I've always pride myself on updating the website as much as possible - usually wanting to do 3-5 stories a week + podcast + videos + events + whatever else. In the last two weeks I've started a new job, which is always a undertaking in itself. The Nintendo Switch came out which is obviously exciting, and there have just been some personal lifestyle changes as well that have taken my attention away from the website.

TorontoGameDevs.com has always been a passion of love. I do have Google ads on the site, we do have a Patreon, a store, and I have charged to advertise jobs on the website. I'm always grateful for people's time, their money, their shares on social media, anything really that helps the website but the truth is that at working about 10-30 hours a week on the site the income works to be almost non-existent.

My intention with TorontoGameDevs.com has always been to inform people on the games created locally. You often hear to "buy local" in regards to jewelry, clothes, or cars - I've tried to also include video games in that realm. Toronto is an amazing, multi-cultural city - and the art and entertainment coming out of it is nothing to sleep on. Video games are only a small piece of the amazing work being done in Toronto.

I have of course had help on my mission. Bret Measor and Dan Rodriguez have dedicate a lot of their time to doing the podcast. Devon Wiersma has been doing reviews for only the experience and exposure. And finally my fiancé, who is the most amazing woman I've ever known, has only ever been 100% supportive for everything regarding the website. Her support means the world to me and I would of stopped a long time without it.

So sometimes there are down weeks, and it always hits me. Sometimes I see a story that I want to write and I'll say "I'll doit tomorrow". This has been the longest "down-time" I've had so I wanted to write this little blurb. Things will pick up soon, but I do apologize if you've been to the site and wondered "what happened to Steve?" - Don't worry, we're still around.

March is TorontoGameDevs.com two year anniversary, minus the last week or so, traffic continues to "slowly" rise, and the future looks bright. Sorry for sleeping a bit.

- Steve

Slack Based RPG 'Chat & Slash' In Beta Testing Right Now

If you're a fan of Dungeons and Dragons or other paper based RPG's you'll want to check out Chat & Slash, a Slack RPG that is currently going through its beta.

If you aren't familiar with Slack, it's a messenger system used by businesses to connect teams and employees  (similar to a profession Skype/MSN messenger). Friend of the site Dan Hulton used its API to create a paper and pen RPG - which you can sign up for right here. Slack has apps for PC and Mac, as well as on mobile phones.

Chat & Slash is an old-school hack & slash RPG played using the Slack client with a highly customized bot.  It's quite similar to MUDs of old, but controlled via buttons and slash-commands.

If interested, you can sign up right here, and check the dev log here. Make sure to also follow Dan on Twitter.

IGN Interviews Devon On Riverbond - Shows New Gameplay Footage

Devon Wiersma, Game Designer at Cococucumber as well as our own reviewer here at TorontoGameDevs, was interviewed by IGN about their upcoming pixel/voxel RPG Riverbond. In the video he talks about the level design, different characters and more. Devon also confirms a Fall 2017 release for "all consoles and PC".

You can check out the interview below:

Let's Play Starwhal

Chris and I are back! We're taking a break from For Honor to play some Starwahl which was developed in Ottawa from Breakfall. Check it out below and subscribe!

Graceful Explosion Machine Coming To Nintendo Switch This April

Nintendo had an indie game showcase for upcoming indie games coming to Switch, and Toronto's own Graceful Explosion Machine was shown.. It was also confirmed that the game, while previous just noted as "launch window" has been given an April timeframe. It was also confirmed that the game will support HD Rumble. Once we have the final date, we'll let you know!

NVYVE Studios Release New Trailer For P.A.M.E.L.A Announces Steam Early Access Release Date

P.A.M.E.L.A will be releasing on Steam Early Access March 9th. The first person survival horror game has been getting comparisons to Bioshock - partly because P.A.M.E.L.A takes place it a fallen Utopian city of its own - Eden. Nvyve Studios made the announcement earlier this month.

PAMELA is coming to Steam Early Access on March 9th! And a brand new trailer: https://t.co/h9E6DHQeH5 https://t.co/24o88qESMJ #madewithunity

— NVYVE Studios (@NVYVEStudios) February 23, 2017

Play as a Sleeper, awoken from cryosleep in Eden, a fallen utopia wrought with death and danger. Utilize a wide range of hi-tech weapons, equipment, and build-able items that can be upgraded to suit your needs. Meet PAMELA, an omnipresent AI overseer who is left alone watching over the once-vibrant city, now reduced to a silent monolith gliding across the ocean.

You can check out the full trailer below, while also checking out the Steam page for the game here. According to the Steam page, NVYVE Studios is expecting P.A.M.E.L.A to be in early access for 6-9 months.