News Byte! December 5th - Cuphead, Polyball, and Dash Quest Heroes
/ Stephen Crane
News Byte!
News Byte! February 13th - Alto's Odyssey, Debris Co-Op, Bleed 2
Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Along with Dash Quest Heroes, another local game was released on mobile phones recently. Jamhammer Games released shoot-em up Shwip Turbo Thumb for free on iPhone and Android.
"Survive an onslaught of increasingly difficult enemy waves and formations in this beautiful pixel-fest-destruction shoot-em-up.
Literally render your enemies into pixel-dust with your trusty dual-shot cannon and arsenal of other insanely powerful power-ups. The better you play, the more power-ups you receive."
This is just a side treat while we wait for Shwip on Steam, which you can add to your wishlist here.
GET YOUR WISHLIST ON! #Shwip Steam page is LIVE LIVE LIVE!! https://t.co/MB33UiIR7X #indiedev #indiegame #gamedev @TorontoGameDevs pic.twitter.com/kFRdWZD9hw
— Jamhammer Games (@JamhammerGames) September 26, 2017
Nintendo recently updated the Switch to allow video capturing, and slowly games have been patched to allow it. We can now add Vertex Pop's Graceful Explosion Machine to the list - the game has been patched to add functionality.
"We have a small (but pretty cool!) update out for Graceful Explosion Machine today which adds Video Capture support for Nintendo Switch. Now when you pull of a particularly gracefulrun, you can just hold down the capture button and share.
We’re excited to check out all the cool videos you post, so please make sure to share them with us on Twitter!"
The new studio founded by ex-BioWare devs Humanoid Origin is looking to fill multiple roles.
Tiny Titan Studios tweeted earlier last month they were looking for Beta testers, and looks like we know what they were (probably) testing. The studio announced Dash Quest Heroes today, a free to play follow up to Dash Quest.
"Become a Legendary Hero and explore a vast world of fantasy adventure in Dash Quest Heroes! The Kingdom of Solas has fallen prey to the fiendish Zaru and it's up to the Heroes of the world to defeat him. Collect incredible gear and forge new items as you set out on a journey through rolling hills, cryptic caves, shrouded forests and more! Only the mightiest of Heroes will become legend."
You can download the game for free on iOS here, or on Android here. Make sure to let them know what you think on Twitter!
Guess what?! We're so excited to announce that our NEW GAME, Dash Quest Heroes, is now available in the App Store & Google Play Store in Canada! Check out the trailer below and stay tuned for the worldwide launch! #pixelart #indiedev #gamedev https://t.co/XpeH1OxrdF
— Tiny Titan Studios (@TinyTitanGames) December 4, 2017
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
Though it was available in Steam Early Access before - Studio Monolith's Super Monkey Ball/Marble Madness inspired game has officially launched, and is enjoying a 20% discount on Steam right now.
"There's a lot to do in Polyball -- Challenge yourself or a friend to one of over 60 levels included in the initial release, with plans for many more levels via DLC. If you've got some friends over and are looking for something to play, Polyball's splitscreen multiplayer promises a good time. With classic modes like Battle and Trails, as well as a multiplayer version of the single-player experience, Polyball promises to be a must-have party game."
You can also check out the launch trailer, and some screenshots below:
Cuphead got patched the other day to fix some bugs and exploits, and general gameplay balance. Cuphead has been in the news a lot lately, confirming that the characters will return, and being nominated for awards. You can check out the full patch notes below - which sadly gets rid of the duplication/army bug.
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.
Fall Guys have announced the game will be getting Cuphead specific skins.
Tis the season of delays, and Studio MDHR is up next - announcing today that the DLC follow up to Cuphead is delayed.
Oakville and Regina-based game developers Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) have released the originally Xbox console exclusive Cuphead for PlayStation 4 today, the last major gaming platform it was absent from (besides Ouya).
Indie darling Cuphead has shipped 5 million copies across PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch and is on sale to celebrate!
The Video Game Awards will be next week on December 7th, and a few local games are up for rewards - with Cuphead grabbing 10 nominations for the following:
Best Art Direction, Best Score/Music, Best Action Game, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game
Warframe is also up for nomination for Best Ongoing and consider it just got the big Plains of Eidolon update, it has a decent change of winning.
Good luck to all nominee's, and tune in December 7th to see the winners.
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.
Fall Guys have announced the game will be getting Cuphead specific skins.
Tis the season of delays, and Studio MDHR is up next - announcing today that the DLC follow up to Cuphead is delayed.
Oakville and Regina-based game developers Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) have released the originally Xbox console exclusive Cuphead for PlayStation 4 today, the last major gaming platform it was absent from (besides Ouya).
Indie darling Cuphead has shipped 5 million copies across PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch and is on sale to celebrate!
Released earlier this year on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam - Creative Byte Studios is now bringing their game Embers of Mirrim to Nintendo Switch. Embers of Mirrim is a 2D platformer where you play as a mystical fox-like creature that can split into light and dark embers. Players progress through the world saving their companions and solving puzzles using their splitting technique.
Embers of Mirrim pounces onto Nintendo Switch Dec 7th 2017 https://t.co/cO0DnVikLI #SplittingIsBelieving #NintendoSwitch #IndieGame #Gaming #madewithunity pic.twitter.com/zNBN5LnFrH
— Embers of Mirrim (@EmbersOfMirrim) November 29, 2017
You can also check out some gameplay and thoughts I had on the game in the video below. Overall it's a solid addition to an already growing list of Toronto games on Switch. Also coming out December 7th is Longstory on Steam.
The new studio founded by ex-BioWare devs Humanoid Origin is looking to fill multiple roles.
Our friends at Yah Man Games have released a beta version of Golfy Golf on Gamejolt which you can play for free right now.
"Golfy Golf is a fun, new, exciting take on the classic game of golf featuring, menacing enemies, stiff competition, beautifully laid our grounds, visually appealing graphics and innovative game play set up. Its is sure to get you on the greens. FORE!"
With the game in Beta, the developer is looking for feedback - so make sure to let them know on Twitter. You can check out the game right here.
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
Last year Reptoid Games won the Ubisoft Toronto Indie Series for Fossil Hunters, which got them (amongst other things) a cash prize, and mentorship. Ubisoft posted a video going over their experience which you can check below:
This year Ubisoft announced a round two of the competition, which you can check out here. We won't have to wait much longer for Fossil Hunters, which is expected to hit next year.
Reptoid Games (@reptoidgames), the developer behind 2018’s Fossil Hunters, announced their next game Fire Tonight, a narrative puzzle game “about two people trying to find their way back together in a city on fire”.
Rage Quest came out a few weeks ago on Steam, itch.io, and Google Play and now iOS owners can get it on the action. You can pick it up on iOS right here.
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
Hey! So as you may or may not know, we are on Patreon. If you're unfamiliar with the platform, it's similar to Kickstarter but more of a subscription based service. You pay as long as you want, per month, and get rewards and perks, and then you can cancel anytime. It's a great way to financially help support what we're trying to do at TorontoGameDevs.
One thing I want to do more is engage with Patreon's more - I want them to have a say in how the site develops and evolves. The first thing being how we'll do Game of the Year voting this year. So if you're a Patreon, check out the page to help with the site - and if you're not a Patreon - consider it :)