Reporting on the games made in Canada and the creators behind them
Patreons get interviews early, and the most recent one is with Galal Hassan who spoke about his time developing ARia's Legacy, his time as a game developer, and his experience at E3 and more.
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.
Fossil Hunters is already out on PC, and we knows it's coming to consoles, but now we have a release date for the Nintendo Switch version, and it's sooner than later..
Switch owners will get a crack at the coop digging puzzle game on June 28th and will release for $16.99 USD. You can check out some screenshots of the Switch version below.
We are thrilled to announce that #FossilHunters will be launching on the #NintendoSwitch #eShop on June 28! https://t.co/YEiBzwnTOH
— Reptoid Games (@ReptoidGames) June 14, 2018
Please RT & spread the word! pic.twitter.com/0ruMFo3J3g
After launching on Steam last year, St Catharines based Rocketship Park will be porting their puzzle story-driven adventure game LOVE to Nintendo Switch “soon”.
Published by Noodlecake, and developed by FaceIT, the previous Mobile/Steam game Summer Catchers will be hitting the Nintendo Switch tomorrow (February 11th)
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”.
System Siege, the turn-based strategy game from Waterloo based 56 Gaem Studios hit Early Access on Steam last week. You can get the game here, which looks like a little love letter to Advanced Wars.
Negotiations have failed. We tried to destroy the technology we'd spent so long building. Now is the time for action. The ultimate battle for survival rages on between humans and androids. Use your strategies to dominate and destroy in System Siege. Who will be left when the smoke clears, commander?
System Siege is a top-down turn-based strategy game set in the distant future. An homage to the classics, System Siege showcases a diverse range of units and commanders to choose from - know their strengths and dominate.
According to the Steam page, the game will be up for Early Access for 10 months to gather feedback, while also adding different difficulties, a full singleplayer, and a map editor.
Wishlist now on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/683910 It's all out war and it's either us or them. Humans or Androids. Battle as different commanders in System Siege, a tactical turn-based strategy to defeat the androids and win not only the planet back, but the entire solar system.
Groover Gunner, the rhythm VR game from BitCutter Studios will be leaving Steam Early Access on February 10th, there have been various updates since the game was first released in 2020. You can check out the full details below, and luckily the game is currently 25% off.
Chute Apps have released their “Bullet Hell Insanity + Tower Defense Strategy” game on Steam as a full release. Version 1.0 of the game comes with new items, guns and improvements and is currently enjoying 20% off at the time of writing.
Windsor based Chute Apps will have their bullet-hell/tower defense game Rogue Star Rescue leave Steam Early Access on February 4th - with a Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One version coming later this year.
Vancouver-based independent game studios Redstone Interactive (@redstoneio) and Offworld Industries (@OffworldInd) have announced their upcoming large-scale multiplayer first-person shooter Beyond The Wire (@play_BTW) launches in Early Access on Steam next week.
Toronto-based game studio Cellar Door Games (@CellarDoorGames) have launched the sequel to 2013’s indie darling Rogue Legacy into Steam Early Access.
Music-maker, bullet hell Beat Blast from Toronto-based two-person team Woolly Walrus (@WoollyWalrusInc) is launching on Steam Early Access soon with music from Toronto musician Harrison (@prodbyharrison).
British Columbia-based two-man indie studio MinMaxGames has released their golf course building sim-strategy game GolfTopia on Steam Early Access.
Nova Scotia-based indie game studio Cosmocat Games (@cosmocatgames) has announced their rogue-lite survival horror game TOXICANT will be launching in Steam Early Access later this month.
Edmonton-based indie studio Only By Midnight (@OnlyByMidnight) is hosting an open beta for their third-person arcadey twin-stick shooter Curved Space which can you get access to through the studio’s official Discord.
A major update titled Minerals and Craftmanship has released for Early Access grid-less, sprawling medieval city building sim Foundation (@foundationgame) which is being developed Québec-based Polymorph Games (@polymorph_games).
The Blobs Fight! by SkyPyre Studios has gotten a new trailer! Check it out!
The Blobs Fight! will be releasing on Steam on June 21.
We spoke about Pixel Crushers ARia's Legacy just before the show, and now we have the official trailer for the upcoming AR escape room game. You can check it out below.
ARia's Legacy is the first mobile escape room game using AR (augmented reality) technology. Instead of displaying objects on a table in front of you, it creates a virtual environment around your physical space that has you walking around your room discovering parts that were never there before.
Their Twitter page also had a bunch of footage of players playing so I recommend checking that out as well. If you're actually at E3 they are at booth 2454.
All set up and ready for #E32018! Now we're just waiting for all of YOU to come play!#TPCE3 #indiegame #gamedev #augmentedreality #escaperoom #mobile #Android #iOS #ARKit #Unity3D pic.twitter.com/WjMJTTuOjK
— The Pixel Crushers @E3 2454 (@ThePixelCrusher) June 11, 2018
Announced last year, we always know Starlink: Battle of Atlas would be coming in 2018, and now we have the exact date. Announced at E3, the Ubisoft Toronto space adventure game will be coming October 16th to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch.
Lead a group of interstellar pilots as you build your own starship, explore the Atlas Star System, and battle the vile Grax and his Forgotten Legion. Available October 16.
Nintendo Switch will also have an added bonus, as Fox McCloud from the StarFox series will be available on the Switch version of the game. You can check out the trailers and Press Release below. We'll have more on Starlink as I get through all the E3 news.
Lead a group of interstellar pilots as you build your own starship, explore the Atlas Star System, and battle the vile Grax and his Forgotten Legion. Featuring special guest pilot Fox McCloud and his Arwing. Battle in exclusive Add-on Star Wolf missions! Available October 16.
Our favorite moment for the #UbiE3 conference yesterday 😉 Congratulations to the entire team! #StarlinkGame pic.twitter.com/IYH2t2IR72
— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) June 12, 2018
BLAST OFF WITH STARLINK: BATTLE FOR ATLAS™ ON OCTOBER 16
The Starlink Initiative Teams Up with Ace Pilot and Star Fox Leader Fox McCloud in Free Exclusive Nintendo Switch® Add-On Content
LOS ANGELES, CA – June 11, 2018 – Today, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Ubisoft announced that Starlink: Battle for Atlas™, an all-new action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Toronto, will be available for Nintendo Switch®, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X on October 16, 2018. This open world space saga featuring modular toy technology empowers players to assemble and customize real-world physical starships. Each modular component and pilot attached to the starship appears instantly in-game and players can experiment with different pilot abilities, weapons and ships to unleash devastating combos upon their enemies. The Starlink: Battle for Atlas Retail Starter Pack includes the game, one starship, one pilot, a variety of weapons, the Starlink controller mount and a poster for the suggested retail price of $74.99 USD, Pre-orders for the Starter Pack begin today.
The Starlink diverse cast of characters will team up with ace pilot and leader of the Star Fox team, Fox McCloud, and his iconic Arwing ship in free exclusive add-on content for the Nintendo Switch. Players can play through the entire campaign as Fox McCloud and embark on exclusive missions in Atlas featuring other friends from the Star Fox universe.
“We are excited to give players a deeper look at Starlink: Battle for Atlas, the first all-new property from Ubisoft Toronto,” said Laurent Malville, Creative Director at Ubisoft Toronto. “Starlink is a project born from the passion of our collective team, and the opportunity to work directly with Nintendo to bring Star Fox to our universe is a dream come true. We believe the Atlas open star system is a perfect playground for Fox to explore and hope players will too.”
The modular toys and dynamic combat mechanics in Starlink: Battle for Atlas let players explore multiple ways to achieve objectives and approach any obstacle or enemy, driven by their own imagination and creativity. Alongside the innovative new way to play, Starlink: Battle for Atlas offers open-world gameplay, spanning a full star system that players can explore with total freedom. Built from the ground up in the Snowdrop engine, the game allows seamless travel through and around the exotic alien worlds of the Atlas Star System, teeming with life and unique challenges across seven different planets. Players’ actions and choices will impact their journey and no two player experiences will be alike. Enemies will react and fight back intelligently – taking over the star system if the player does nothing to stop them. The fate of Atlas rests in your hands.
All versions of the Starlink: Battle for Atlas Starter Pack include the game, the Starlink controller mount and a poster. Additionally, on PlayStation® 4 system and Xbox One the Starter Pack includes:
* Zenith Starship – includes modular hull and two Armor wings
* Mason Rana Pilot
* Shredder Weapon
* Flamethrower Weapon
* Frost Barrage Weapon
The Nintendo Switch Starter Pack includes:
* Arwing Starship – includes modular hull and two Arwing wings, with laser cannon weapons and charge shot built in
* Fox McCloud Pilot
* Mason Rana Pilot
* Flamethrower Weapon
* Frost Barrage Weapon
* Digital versions of Zenith Starship and Shredder weapon
* Exclusive Star Fox mission content
The team at Ubisoft Toronto collaborated closely with Virtuos on the Nintendo Switch version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas. The partnership allowed Ubisoft to push the Nintendo Switch version to new heights, and fully support handheld, tabletop and docked play.
Players will be able to build their collection, and all pieces are compatible.* At launch, Starlink: Battle for Atlas will have additional ships, weapons and pilots available for purchase at the following suggested retail prices:
* Starship Pack (including one starship with modular hull and two wings, one pilot and one weapon): $24.99
* Weapon Pack (including two weapons): $9.99
* Pilot Pack (including one pilot): $7.99
Supporting assets for this announcement can be found here:
Video:
Static Assets:
Username: ubisoft_usa
PW: E32018
For more information about Starlink: Battle for Atlas, please visit: www.starlinkgame.com
For the latest on all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit www.ubinews.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
*The Arwing Starship and Fox McCloud Pilot will only be compatible with the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
© 2018 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. The Starlink Battle for Atlas Logo, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Nintendo properties are licensed to Ubisoft Entertainment by Nintendo. Starfox characters © Nintendo. Trademarks are property of their respective owners.
During Microsoft's E3 press conference, Microsoft announced Cuphead DLC along with a new trailer. It will be coming Spring 2019 and I'll update this post with more.
[UPDATED]
That (obviously) didn't take long. The new trailer is posted online and we got some details straight from Studio MDHR, including that the game will have new weapons, charms, and bosses. The game will also feature a new playable character Ms Chalice.
In Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, Cuphead and Mugman are joined by Ms. Chalice for a DLC add-on adventure on a brand new island! With new weapons, new charms, and Ms. Chalice's brand new abilities, take on a new cast of multi-faceted, screen-filling bosses to assist Chef Saltbaker in Cuphead's final challenging quest.
Big news! We’re busy cooking up a super new Cuphead expansion DLC – The Delicious Last Course. A new isle with a feast of new weapons, charms, and bosses. And to top it all off - Ms.Chalice – a brand new playable character. Coming 2019.https://t.co/nf9IrN5jTf pic.twitter.com/JBgShjIjC0
— Studio MDHR (@StudioMDHR) June 10, 2018
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!
Starlink Battle for Atlas, the first game from Ubisoft Toronto where they are the lead developer since Splinter Cell: Blacklist, was announced at last years E3 and we already know we're going to see more of the game at this years show. Ubisoft's E3 press conference will be at Monday June 4:00 EST and we'll have all the details here.
Get ready to visit Atlas, #UbiE3 is coming! Join us on June 11 from 1pm PT and see more #StarlinkGame. pic.twitter.com/khOhz6Qfou
— StarlinkGame (@StarlinkGame) June 4, 2018
Watch the world premiere of Starlink: Battle for Atlas and travel deep into space to protect the Atlas star system from enemies! Available Fall 2018! #Starlink Website - http://ubi.li/mthfr ABOUT Starlink: Battle for Atlas: In Starlink: Battle for Atlas, you're part of a group of heroic interstellar pilots, dedicated to free the Atlas star system from the Forgotten Legends, an evil robot force.
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.
With E3 next week we're going to be doing the lead up to the event, and of course we'll be writing about the games shown at E3. One of those games will be Aria's Legacy from Pixel Crushers. Labeled as the first mobile AR Escape Room Experience, players will use their own mobile phone or tablet to solve over 50 levels of puzzles. You can check out the full press release and some screenshots below - but we'll get the full reveal at E3.
What do you think we'll find? 🗝 Maybe we can work together in 10 more days! #e32018 #E3iscoming#screenshotsaturday #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev #escaperoom #MobileGame #AR #Android #ios pic.twitter.com/VcPIgzXwjF
— ARia's Legacy @E3 2454 (@ariaslegacy) June 2, 2018
The First Mobile AR Escape Room Experience, ARia's Legacy, is Happening at E3
The Pixel Crushers will be showcasing an exclusive demo of ARia’s Legacy, the first augmented reality escape room game at E3 on June 12-14, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
TORONTO, CANADA, May 22, 2018 – An exclusive demo of ARia’s Legacy, the first mobile AR escape room video game, will be shown by developers The Pixel Crushers at E3 from June 12-14, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
ARia's Legacy is a true implementation of augmented reality. Instead of displaying objects on a table in front of you, it creates a virtual environment around your physical space that has you walking around your room discovering parts that were never there before. Through the power of AR, players can immerse themselves in 50 different levels of mystery anywhere using a mobile phone or tablet as they uncover the story behind ARia’s sudden disappearance and discover her legacy.
In ARia’s Legacy, you are a part of a team of archaeologists excitedly looking for artifacts at your newest archaeological site. Suddenly, your shovel strikes a chest that you quickly unearth with the help of various tools around you. When you try to open it, you are seemingly thrown into a locked room that is at once familiar and eerily foreign to you.
Your only clue seems to be the chest that you found and the name “ARia" ringing in your head.
With ARia’s Legacy, we created an immersive escape room experience that you can enjoy anywhere at any time,” says Galal Hassan, professor of George Brown College and The Pixel Crusher’s project manager. “Augmented reality is meant to have the player move around. Using your environment to solve puzzles is why AR was born. The most successful AR games are the ones that make you move. This is the future of gaming in AR.”
Attendees will be able to register in advance to skip the lines at E3 in order to try this convention exclusive hands-on demo of ARia’s Legacy on their website.
ARia’s Legacy is currently in development for both iOS and Android platforms. Follow the development of ARia’s Legacy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Game Info
Title: ARia’s Legacy
Genre: Mystery/puzzle
Developer: The Pixel Crushers
Platforms: iOS, Android
Release date: TBA
Web: https://www.ariaslegacy.com/
-###-
About The Pixel Crushers
The Pixel Crushers is a small independent creative software agency that offers superior app and game development services that shifts your projects into overdrive. Our team consists of senior level developers Galal Hassan and Abdul Algharbi, as well as several graduate designers that have worked on countless projects such as our first release, RoBox and its sequel, Robo X – The Lost Energy. Together, we craft games that make you think! For more information, go to https://www.thepixelcrushers.com/.
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.
Today we recorded two podcasts. The first was with Alex Bethke where we talked about his extensive game creating history, and his work with Toronto Game Jam. The interview will be up for everyone on Tuesday, but if you're a Patron at the $4+ level you can grab the episode here.
I also recorded a E3/catch up podcast episode with Bret. We went over the games released so far this year, what we've be playing, and our predictions for E3. It'll be up tomorrow, or you can check it out on Patreon if you're at the $1+ level.
Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Google Play!
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.
Golem, the platforming puzzle from Hegemony developers Longbow Games is out now on Steam, and enjoying a 10% discount (as of this writing). Golem has you playing a young girl and shape-shifting golem who must navigate the ruins of an ancient tower.
No one knew who built the ancient tower that loomed beside the coast. The young girl figured water must have once flowed down its giant aqueducts into her village, but even her grandfather couldn't remember seeing the mill's old water wheel turn. These days it is the job of her and the other children to journey to-and-from the tower to collect what little water bubbles up in the caves beneath it. But everything is about to change when she awakens a mysterious glowing orb buried beneath the puddles. Images long hidden on the cavern walls now glow with hints of a new hope for her drought-stricken village, and the sealed door of the tower sits ajar for the first time in centuries. With her curious companion in tow, the young girl bravely enters the crumbling ruins of the ancient machine to discover if its long-held secrets hold the key to her future.
#GOLEM is now available for PC ! Buy it now for -10% off !
— Golem (@longbowgolem) May 29, 2018
Steam: https://t.co/PUI0NU2NgE
GOG: https://t.co/7BvNLo3kOm@LongbowGames #longbowgolem pic.twitter.com/S9a5WgU8nh
You can pick up the game on Steam right here $16.99 CAD (and it's currently on a 10% discount).
Ubisoft Canada and Northern Arena have announced the Rainbow Six Canadian Nationals which starts this month and will have teams compete in Rainbox Six: Siege for $15,000. You can check out the website, trailer, and press release below.
The RAINBOW SIX CANADIAN NATIONALS is a tournament FOR CANADIANS, BY CANADIANS. Set across two Seasons of gameplay, teams from all around the country will compete for the top title in Canada and TWO cash prizes of $15,000 CAD. REGISTER YOUR TEAM NOW!
UBISOFT® CANADA PARTNERS WITH NORTHERN ARENA FOR THE
TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX® SIEGE CANADIAN NATIONALS
Canadian teams will compete for a $15,000 CAD prize pool
MONTREAL, CANADA - May 28, 2018 - Today, Ubisoft Canada is pleased to announce the Rainbow Six Canadian Nationals, the video game publisher’s first partnership with Northern Arena, the largest esports organizer in Canada. The exciting new esports competition, featuring the popular Canadian-made Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege®, will crown one team as Canada’s best!
Presented by Ubisoft Canada and powered by Northern Arena, the Rainbow Six Canadian Nationals will kick off in June 2018. The competition will consist of two seasons, with live finals taking place in Montreal and Toronto. Each season, participating Canadian teams will compete for a $15,000 CAD prize pool.
Each season will begin with a two-day Open Qualifier, where teams (made up of all Canadian players) will compete for their chance at a spot to compete in the Canadian league. Once league play begins, each season will consist of eight days of matches spanning four weekends. The tournament will follow a round robin format, and rankings will be determined on a point-based system.
Season One Open Qualifiers will take place on June 23-24, with online league play happening each weekend in July. Season Two Open Qualifiers will take place on September 22-23, with online league play happening over every weekend in October.
At the end of each season, the two top-ranked teams will move on to a live Grand Final in Montreal (Season One: August 4) and Toronto (Season Two: November 3). The winning team from season 2 will become the Year 1 national champion!
“Esports is one of the most important and fastest growing industries globally, and we are proud to partner with a renowned Canadian organizer like Northern Arena to continue to build esports in Canada. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is a Canadian-developed game and we are excited to help more Canadians perform at higher competitive levels,” says Olivier Ernst, Managing Director at Ubisoft Canada. “Partnering with Northern Arena allows us to offer a competitive esports playground for Canadians, by Canadians.”
“Esports is our passion and partnering with Ubisoft, one of the leaders in video game publishing, is an honor for us. We are excited to create this organized platform for the growing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six community in Canada,” says Carl-Edwin Michel, founder and CEO of Northern Arena. “We look forward to fostering the amazing talent developing all over the country.”
Additional details regarding spectator opportunities for the Grand Finals will be released closer to each final, and fans are encouraged to follow Northern Arena and Ubisoft Canada on social media for real-time updates.
Canadian Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege players can register their team for the Canadian Nationals today, and find more information about the tournament at: http://northernarena.ca/rainbowsix/.
For more information about Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, please visit https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com/siege and the Facebook group page.
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.
About Northern Arena
Northern Arena has become the leader of esports throughout Canada and is focused on creating platforms for on-site events and online leagues. By working closely with various game developers, Northern Arena is aiming to bring these events and leagues to players and audiences seamlessly and professionally with world-class production quality and innovative content distribution methods. Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are home to vast grassroots gaming communities that have been waiting for a pinnacle platform to enable Canadian esports to thrive. Northern Arena is dedicated to building comprehensive, integrated professional esports leagues and entertainment platforms for a variety of esports titles while still focusing on providing opportunities for grassroots communities to flourish.
I was given a list of game developers (both local and out of city/country) that will be attending/presenting at VRTO (which we've talked about here). Remember that TorontoGameDevs.com readers have a chance to save! Use the code: TOGameDevs15 to save 15% on tickets.
Game Dev Speakers
Paloma Dawkins - NFB (Alea, Gardenarium, Palmystery) - Montreal
Blair Renaud - IRIS VR (Road Warrior, GTA: London, Technolust) - Toronto
Phillip Rosedale - Founder (Second Life, High Fidelity) - San Francisco
Johnny Montsarrat - Founder (Turbine) - Boston, MA
Elli Raynai - Cinehackers (Circuit Rider) - Toronto
Lee Vermeulen - Alientrap Games (Apotheon, Cryptark, ModBox) - Toronto
John Bolton - Globacore - Toronto
Game Dev Exhibitors:
Stephen Shew - (Battleverse - Multiplayer Augmented Reality RPG) - Toronto
Martov Co. - (Chiaro and the Elixir of Life) - Montreal
Paloma Dakwins - (Museum of Symmetry) - Montreal)
Chris Cooper - Singular Dream (Shatter Everything) - Toronto
Dustin Freeman - Escape Character (Moatboat, Shapeshifter/Tweetris) - Toronto
VRulez - showcasing the Katwalk Premium VR treadmill seen in Ready Player One with various VR games - Toronto
Globacore - Various
I was just mentioning on this weeks podcast that VR appears to just be full steam ahead right now, with Bloxiq VR shown last week, here comes Mervils, a fantasy VR game from London developer VitruviusVR.
Dadako Studios developed, and 13AM Games published Pirate Pop Plus is hitting Switch this week. The puzzle game is also available on Steam, 3DS, and Wii U, and makes for a good time waster while we wait for Runbow on Switch, and their next game Double Cross.
"Join Pete Jr on his quest to defeat the nefarious Bubble Pirate, an evil villain who has trapped the innocent townsfolk in bubbles! Dodge and pop bubbles with your anchor while collecting power-ups and managing Bubble Pirate’s constant gravity-switching mischief! When you feel at your Piratey-est, test your skill in the ultra-challenging Hyper Mode... The game may be faster and harder, but you'll find treasures beyond your wildest dreams. Coins as far as the eye can see! Collect coins to unlock content in the game’s shop like new music, new faceplates, buttons, backlights, and even characters for your bubble-popping mayhem! Yarr!"
Get ready to hop into the lovely pixellated world of Pirate Pop Plus from @dadakostudios on your #NintendoSwitch next week on May 31st! It will be coming with a 20% off launch discount as well, so make sure get your hooks into it right away! pic.twitter.com/bQgQkrR07V
— 13AM Games (@13amgames) May 24, 2018
After launching on Steam last year, St Catharines based Rocketship Park will be porting their puzzle story-driven adventure game LOVE to Nintendo Switch “soon”.
Published by Noodlecake, and developed by FaceIT, the previous Mobile/Steam game Summer Catchers will be hitting the Nintendo Switch tomorrow (February 11th)
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”.
We knew that Far Cry 5 was getting three pieces of DLC, and now we know the date of the first one - Hours of Darkness. The DLC will take players to Vietnam as they relive the experiences of Wendell Redler who was a character in the main campaign of Far Cry 5. The DLC will be out June 5th, and comes part of the Far Cry 5 season pass.
We also get a timeline of future DLC, including ones based on missions to Mars, and zombies. Full press release and trailer is below:
Escape from behind enemy lines in war-torn Vietnam and get your squad to the extraction zone! Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness will be available on June 5th, 2018 #FarCry5 #FarCry Please SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/UbisoftYouTubeChannel Visit our official channels for the latest information on all things Far Cry: https://far-cry.ubisoft.com/ https://www.facebook.com/farcry.usa https://www.instagram.com/farcrygame_us/ https://twitter.com/FarCrygame http://www.youtube.com/UbisoftNA ABOUT FAR CRY 5: Far Cry comes to America in the latest installment of the award-winning franchise.
FAR CRY 5: HOURS OF DARKNESS LAUNCHES ON JUNE 5
Travel from Hope County to Vietnam in Far Cry’s First DLC Adventure
Montreal — May 24, 2018 — Today, Ubisoft announced Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness, the first post-launch adventure, will release on June 5 across all platforms. The first DLC will transport players back in time as they play Hope County’s Wendell “Red” Redler, who must find and rescue his fellow squad members from hostile forces during the Vietnam War. Hours of Darkness can be purchased as part of the Far Cry 5 Season Pass for $39.99 and Gold Edition for $119.99.
Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness transports players into a war-torn Vietnam as they relive the harrowing experience of Wendell Redler from the main campaign of Far Cry 5. Playable in solo or online co-op, Hours of Darkness transports players from rural Montana to a dangerous jungle where they must rescue imprisoned squad mates, wreak havoc on the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, and fight to get back home by any means necessary. This first DLC adventure will feature new gear and abilities as well as two different playable modes that will be unlocked after completing Hours of Darkness: Survivor Mode, giving players a limited loadout for a more challenging playthrough, and Action Movie Mode, where a generous loadout delivers over-the-top action.
In addition to the DLC, all Far Cry 5 players will have access to new Vietnam-themed assets in Far Cry Arcade available on May 24 with the release of title update (TU) 6, the Vietnam Update Map Builders will be able to integrate these assets into their existing maps or create new maps focused on the Hours of Darkness theme. All future DLCs will also include thematic assets that will be added to Far Cry Arcade for free.
Alongside today’s title update, Ubisoft released the soundtrack for Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness, available here: https://idol.lnk.to/FarCry5_Hours_of_Darkness. Composed by Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire, Gallows, Black Lungs) and Andrew Gordon Macpherson. Driven by fear, confusion and violence, the music takes us on a journey into the madness of war. With the participation of renowned multi-instrumentalist Kim Uyen Le, Wade and Andrew have created a sound palette that blends traditional Vietnamese instruments with hypnotic, late 60’s psychedelic soundscapes, gritty vintage electronic textures, and pounding rhythmic patterns.
Far Cry 5 post-launch will continue with two new DLC adventures – Lost on Mars and Dead Living Zombies – which will be released in July and August of this year. Two additional asset drops will give map builders more tools to create unique Far Cry Arcade experiences. The DLC adventures are available in the Season Pass, or as standalone DLC purchases, while new asset releases for Far Cry Arcade will be available for free to all players.
Set in America, a first for the franchise, Far Cry 5 offers players total freedom to navigate a serene-looking yet deeply twisted world as the new junior deputy of fictional Hope County, Montana. Players will find that their arrival accelerates a years-long silent coup by a fanatical doomsday cult, the Project at Eden's Gate, igniting a violent takeover of the county. Under siege and cut off from the rest of the world, players will join forces with residents of Hope County and form the Resistance. Far Cry 5 will continue to receive premium DLC adventures available in the Season Pass as well as free content including new Far Cry Arcade assets and in-game live events following the launch.
For more information about Far Cry 5, please visit farcry.com.
For the latest on Far Cry 5 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 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.
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.