Can you believe it? Another week nearly over – and it’s the last Indie Zoe of February. That’s right people, we’re already almost in the third month of the year. How many games have you played so far?
First up, in cool local news, the local indie game VALA: Alpha has already gotten 50k downloads in just two weeks. Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse (VALA) is available for free on Windows Phone and is a top-down 3d shooter. If you have a Windows Phone, go download this. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to wait for Rogue Code to bring it to other platforms. Personally, I can’t wait to survive and slaughter rabid llamas.
Mike Bithell (creator of Thomas Was Alone and the upcoming Volume) has come out with some cool comments about gender in gaming. He says that male heroes should no longer be the default, and is excited about the change in mentalities surrounding gender:
I don’t recall seeing anyone even mentioning that the Titanfall beta has female avatar options. It has zero effect on the enjoyment of the game for players who don’t care, and a massive effect for those who do. Everyone wins.
In your Humble Bundle news, a bunch of new games were added for those who pay more than the average (still less than $5). Now, in addition to getting Guacamelee!, Dust: An Elysian Tail, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, The Swapper, Antichamber and Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine, ‘big spenders’ will also pick up FEZ, Starseed Pilgrim and Beatbuddy: Tale of the Guardians. Nine games for less than five bucks? Sounds like a deal to me!
Speaking of great deals, you should probably pick up the Pancake Bundle from Indie Royale. It’s going for less than $3.50 and includes Bad Hotel, Gentlemen! and Gimbal. <?p>
Prototype of the Week
This week’s prototype come from Duke of Prunes and is called The Last Galagan. You can read about it on the Make Games SA forum, or just go download it over here. What’s it about? Well, here’s the premise:
What would happen if the Galaxian defense network, optimized for stopping vast Galagan fleets, let a single Galagan yellowjacket slip through their front lines?
Last Updated: February 27, 2014
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 27, 2014 at 12:53
Eish, no comments, here I go, COMMENT.
Also, the Humble Bundle Indie sale FTW
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 12:54
It only just went up!
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 27, 2014 at 12:55
Been up for a while (that’s what she said?)
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:00
Shemale?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 27, 2014 at 13:05
I dunno what Rince likes, but hey, who am I to judge?
oVg BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA... HA!
February 27, 2014 at 13:00
no
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 12:54
Was at the Make Games Dev meet last night, some very cool and interesting things. Like the positives and negatives of building your own engine for a game. Sounds like more a negative!
oVg BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA... HA!
February 27, 2014 at 12:58
Middleware is always the answer. Look at how fantastic the Unreal Engine did this gen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unreal_Engine_games
Then you get Squarepants creating the Crystal engine from the ground up and spending 6 years on the FXIII project.
Lost Odyssey was more content yet half the time.
ALL HAIL THE UNREAL ENGINE.
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:11
You should have come last night man, And yes, use what you have, and only build if it cannot do what you want it to. Like the screen in the pic says…
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 13:36
It looks like he’s using powerpoint as his game engine.
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:37
HAHAh! Funny thing is, before his presentation that is EXACTLY what he said. No shit.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 13:37
He stole my joke. I will sue.
Gerhard Davids
February 27, 2014 at 13:01
I’m going to make my way there on the 11th.
http://www.lazygamer.net/event/make-games-sa-community-night-joburg-2/?doing_wp_cron=1393317825.2125949859619140625000
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:08
Sadly that is on my birthday, and sadly that birthday is happening in CT where I live! Gah! But show your support please, you won’t regret it.
Gerhard Davids
February 27, 2014 at 13:11
that’s the plan man. Want to get access to their stuff to do more videos on local devs on my youtube channel.
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:03
And here is a selfless plug about a game that got my tingly bits… Well… Tingling… CADENCE! Have a look at this and try not to freak out too much! Looks awesome and original. Puzzle/audio game. http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=232627088
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:05
Voted yes.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:11
I want a level editor for that.
Gerhard Davids
February 27, 2014 at 13:12
This comment is to give you another +1
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:12
Hahha! I hope when the game sells millions each +1 is a R100,000 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 13:34
Oops, I accidentally hit down vote. I hope that doesn’t affect anything.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:35
Quick send an email to Steam support.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 13:43
Can’t, my keyboard is broken.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:53
You should’ve waited until after fixing your mistake to slam your head into your keyboard.
Also it seems you have got your Voice-to-Text working so either send them an email using that or just attach a recording.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 14:03
I’ve tried, but every time I say I want to fix that mistake it tells me it’s against the law to kill him.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 14:12
We’re not talking about the same thing are we?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 14:15
Fixing the Rincethis mistake? 😉
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:39
*Sob
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:17
It’s actually very interesting to hear about the different ‘factions’ within the development community, reminds me a little of the ‘abstracts vs realists’ of ages past. All very respectful (well..) and in the same boat. And they say making games isn’t art? PLEEEEASE.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:20
Nothing a quick kick to the shins won’t solve.
In fact you could make a game about.
Use minimalist or modern art styles for the graphics and then see if they still think it isn’t art.
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:27
Argument: “Everything is art! Like this sneeze against this window” Haaaachooo!
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:29
That’s a combination of modern and minimalist art styles.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 27, 2014 at 13:34
SOLD!
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:34
To the man in the tutu with the monkey 0-O
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
February 27, 2014 at 13:28
Games are not art? Well what about The Coral Cave that is entirely handmade and animated in watercolours?
Or what about The Neverhood that was completely made from clay stop motion animation?
And have people completely forgot about the concept art of some games?
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:30
Whoa easy tiger. I was saying exactly what you are 😛 And I am NOT clicking any youtube links from you 😛
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:30
They look safe but they were posted by the Ice Cream Man himself.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
February 27, 2014 at 13:31
Lol, I give my word that both videos are safe… I will even supply you with Terms and Conditions if you wish 😛
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:31
Your T&C’s would have fine print written in quarks!
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:33
Those are both amaze balls.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
February 27, 2014 at 13:34
I loved The Neverhood!
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:35
Are you saying that those videos are safe?!? O_O
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:38
Indeed. Although I wouldn’t trust him to not quickly have removed them now and added something less… Humane in their stead 0-O
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:41
Yeah, it’s not worth the risk.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
February 27, 2014 at 13:42
Lol, I would not do that to The Neverhood… Have any of you guys played it?
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:43
I haven’t actually, seen bits of it though.
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:52
Those are actually pretty interesting.
Videos posted by the Ice Cream Man that are not disturbing?
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
February 27, 2014 at 14:02
I actually haven’t played The Crystal Cove, just read about it once when I was looking for The Neverhood
RinceandGATHERTroops!
February 27, 2014 at 13:46
@zoe have you seen the Cadence trailer?
Kensei Seraph
February 27, 2014 at 13:54
Just in case.
VampyreSquirrel
February 27, 2014 at 18:37
Funny thing is I was sitting with Zoe having coffee when this article went up, so now you know why she didn’t answer your questions lol