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[One Foul Note]

Maybe a bit more mainstream, but has anyone gotten ahold of Gone Home yet? I'd love to hear thoughts!

I've really enjoyed my time with it. It does a great job displaying this narrative through the things you read and driving you forward to solve the greater mysteries. The game does have a few negative points that stop it from being as flawless as some places I have read about it being. However, I can't really talk about any of those without spoiling anything so I won't bother. Although I can say that the flaws I found were choices in narrative and gameplay directions which made them interesting to experience even if I didn't totally agree with them. I would say it is worth getting for sure if you want a more slow paced story/mystery game type deal.

 

[Wok]

Maybe a bit more mainstream, but has anyone gotten ahold of Gone Home yet? I'd love to hear thoughts!

Check the OT. The game is great.

I have just finished Gone Home, and this is a good comptetitor for the Indie GOTY.

The game takes the best of Amnesia, Bioshock, and Dear Esther; and it contains a good story.

 

[Hofmann]

Check the OT. The game is great.

I saw you've invested a lot in the game

 

[Wok]

I saw you've invested a lot in the game

Yes, I wanted the level 5 badge, and I didn't trust people undercutting like crazy. By the way, I bought yours because I recognized your avatar.

 

[Dog Problems]

Shelter, preorder, 10% off, coming August 28th
http://store.steampowered.com/app/244710/?snr=1_550_552

Less than two weeks away and reasonably priced?

That's my most anticipated game right now, beyond the Kentucky Route Zero episodes.

 

[One Foul Note]

My OP Indie Impressions - Part 6

Last Post: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75959139&postcount=628

Shadowrun Returns
An impressive game that sadly doesn’t quite reach its full potential but still worth checking out if you are a strategy RPG guy or just like your punk cyber. This game is sorta riddled with problems, the UI is touch focused, campaigns too liner, editor is too limited and character development is fairly simple. However somewhere between the quality of the world building and slightly OTT bananas dialog it just charms you and I found wandering through the dingy world of Shadowrun as my troll mage to be a really enjoyable experience. It might be worth waiting till there are a few more user campaigns but once it hits a price you are comfortable with I would recommend this. Null sweat.
4/5

Smooth Operator: Call Center Chaos
Didn’t buy
-/5

Strata
Didn’t buy.
-/5

Tessalation
A lovely little game that excels at what it sets out to do really well and then ends before it gets stale. It’s one of the few games that managed to do time travel without even confusing the simpleton that is me and playing basketball with me, an evil robot, me, me and me is an experience that will stick with me for a while.
4/5

Time Squid
A little simple in scope for me, but plays well. You are a squid and your job is to move to the end while dodging foes and warping through worm holes. The death system is fairly interesting because although initially there is little punishment for death other than restarting the short individual levels your death count is added together at the end and presented for you in a golf scores style. Worth playing for a bit, but I can’t see many people getting too invested in it beyond the first few levels.
3/5

T.O.M.B.
Fairly cool initial concept, just could use some work on the basic platforming. This demands a level of precision and control that you just don’t have on the floaty avatar you are given with a very vague hit box. Honestly all that makes this a more fustraiting experience then an enjoyable one.
2/5

Untitled
It’s anyway hard to review stuff like this. I generally find you have to step back and stop thinking like ‘how much did I enjoy this’ and start thinking ‘how much did this confuse me, surprise me, make me think or amazing me with imagery.’ This game did absolutely nothing other than string together a series of boring imagery with a dull narrative.
1/5

Valdis Story: Abyssal City
Well, this game crashed my computer on 2 separate occasions. So perhaps not the most stable of builds. The game itself is a open world 2D platformer in the style of a Metroidvania but with added focus on combos and combat. I can’t say I played this one for too long before it decided it hated my computer but from what I played it seemed okay, the look of the levels is nice although some of the portraits are a little bizarre. Also there are these weird kinks in the movement where your character has delays after certain actions that combined with a noticeable input delay makes controlling the main characters a little unreliable. Potentially awesome final product, but there are some serious issues they need to iron out beforehand.
3/5

2 more to go. Perhaps I should have just thrown them into this list but with StarMade in particular I feel I gotta give it a good go before I lay down my unholy judgement.

 

[Hofmann]

Yes, I wanted the level 5 badge, and I didn't trust people undercutting like crazy. By the way, I bought yours because I recognized your avatar.

Thanks I've been trying to earn some extra euro to buy Gone Home (limited monthly funds), but I underappreciated how popular the game will be.

 

[Hofmann]

Less than two weeks away and reasonably priced?

That's my most anticipated game right now, beyond the Kentucky Route Zero episodes.

This, and Pavilion.

My OP Indie Impressions - Part 6

Last Post: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75959139&postcount=628

You are like indie superhero!

 

[klinkcow]

So this may be an awful question, but I won't regret the $17.99 (ish) Gone Home costs... I'm limited on fundage too!

Especially since Mark of the Ninja SE is coming out today...finally

 

[Wok]

Thanks I've been trying to earn some extra euro to buy Gone Home (limited monthly funds), but I underappreciated how popular the game will be.

The game is more popular than what I had expected. However, with this pricepoint, I expect the cards to be more expensive. I am sure you will make some funds back with this card.

 

[Wok]

Finalists of IGF China are known: http://igf.com/2013/08/igf_china_finalists_indie_summ.html

Main Competition:

• Coated - Muhammad A.Moniem (China)
• Dusty Revenge - PD Design Studio Pte Ltd (Singapore)
• Eagle & Chicken - Geeeu company, Inc. (China)
• Framed - Loveshack Entertainment (Australia)
• Mr Pumpkin's Adventure - PUMPKIN Network Technology Development Ltd. (China)
• One Upon Light - SUTD Game Lab (Singapore)
• Save The Dummy - Sandyloisa (India)
• Strange Adventure - Xie Chuang (China)

Student Competition:

• Descension - Depths of De'mae - DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore (Singapore)
• Enuma Elish - Octave Field (Taiwan)
• Ink Warrior - NJU software - Hexopus (China)
• Mineland - China Academy of Art (China)
• Nao Can Gong Yu - Zeng Wanting / Xu Yalian / Lin Xuan(Taiwan)
• Virtus Per Verba: First Person Shouter - The Anti-Socialites (Australia)

 

[Wok]

Less than two weeks away and reasonably priced?

That's my most anticipated game right now, beyond the Kentucky Route Zero episodes.

The game will also be sold on the Humble Store for us Europeans:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/244710/discussions/0/864976115222362953/

Edit: Sorry for the triple post.

 

[One Foul Note]

You are like indie superhero!

I'm no superhero, Toma's the hero. I'm just the guy who lays into all the games he's found. Essentially I'm the J. Jonah Jameson to his Spider-Man.

 

[Hofmann]

Untitled
It’s anyway hard to review stuff like this. I generally find you have to step back and stop thinking like ‘how much did I enjoy this’ and start thinking ‘how much did this confuse me, surprise me, make me think or amazing me with imagery.’ This game did absolutely nothing other than string together a series of boring imagery with a dull narrative.
1/5

Yes, having in mind fresh images of an amazing thought provoking Slave of God, I was expecting much more from Increpare's new game.

I'm no superhero, Toma's the hero. I'm just the guy who lays into all the games he's found. Essentially I'm the J. Jonah Jameson to his Spider-Man.

Still, both fighting for a good cause

The game will also be sold on the Humble Store for us Europeans:
http://steamcommunity.com/app/244710/discussions/0/864976115222362953/

Thanks for the info. Steam exchange rates are horrendous, so I would rather buy from Humble Store.

 

[rybrad]

I decided to pick up Full Mojo Rampage and it is pretty decent. The best description would be a cross between Rogue Legacy and Binding of Isaac. The character progression and leveling is conceptually similar to Rogue Legacy while the combat is reminiscent of Isaac. Once they get more content in the Alpha, I will do a detailed write-up if no one else has by then.

 

[One Foul Note]

I decided to pick up Full Mojo Rampage and it is pretty decent. The best description would be a cross between Rogue Legacy and Binding of Isaac. The character progression and leveling is conceptually similar to Rogue Legacy while the combat is reminiscent of Isaac. Once they get more content in the Alpha, I will do a detailed write-up if no one else has by then.

Would love to read that once you feel the game has enough content to be judge worthy.

 

[Hofmann]

Finalists of IGF China are known: http://igf.com/2013/08/igf_china_finalists_indie_summ.html

Never heard of Framed before, but, Wow, take a look at it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQetrrlg1jk.

Framed is an innovative narrative-puzzle game set in a noir comic book world. Presented as an animated storyboard and played in ‘chapters’, each panel depicts an important action or event. After watching the scene unfold, players can rearrange the order of the panels, changing the way the events play out and the outcome of the narrative. With each action framed by the last, context is everything.

 

[PandaPedinte]

Never heard of Framed before, but, Wow, take a look at it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQetrrlg1jk.

Looks amazing.

 

[CzarTim]

My OP Indie Impressions - Part 6

Last Post: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75959139&postcount=628

Shadowrun Returns
An impressive game that sadly doesn’t quite reach its full potential but still worth checking out if you are a strategy RPG guy or just like your punk cyber. This game is sorta riddled with problems, the UI is touch focused, campaigns too liner, editor is too limited and character development is fairly simple. However somewhere between the quality of the world building and slightly OTT bananas dialog it just charms you and I found wandering through the dingy world of Shadowrun as my troll mage to be a really enjoyable experience. It might be worth waiting till there are a few more user campaigns but once it hits a price you are comfortable with I would recommend this. Null sweat.
4/5.

I've been on the fence for this game since it came out. $20 is just a tad more than I'm willing to pay for it since it seems like for every positive I hear about the game, there's a negative close behind. It sounds like the sum is perhaps greater than its parts. Might just break down and go for it.

 

[Aon]

Never heard of Framed before, but, Wow, take a look at it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQetrrlg1jk.

Played it at PAX Australia, the devs were some of the friendliest people there. At times the game turns into a logic puzzle, (figuring where best on the page to place a jump and which direction you should jump into) and at times it ends up playing out as a geometry/maze-ish puzzle, such as 12 frames in a row running along gutters on the side of a building and planning out where to translate between them using ladders.

Wish I'd gotten to play something more narrative, or at least more conventionally noir.

 

[SapientWolf]

The new SpyParty animations are incredible.

Woman:

http://youtu.be/HMJrLm4qeaY?t=10s

Man:

http://youtu.be/cXui4fhiJBE?t=10s

I know that gameplay comes first, but I really want those sexy new graphics now.

 

[Wok]

I know that gameplay comes first, but I really want those sexy new graphics now.

Have more:
http://www.spyparty.com/2013/08/17/first-talk-animation-reveals-for-mr-c-mr-d-and-ms-e/

 

[Tak3n]

I've been on the fence for this game since it came out. $20 is just a tad more than I'm willing to pay for it since it seems like for every positive I hear about the game, there's a negative close behind. It sounds like the sum is perhaps greater than its parts. Might just break down and go for it.

I have read nothing but bad things about it, even form the KS backers, who it seems mostly feel betrayed as it looks like the devs essential made a skeleton game and left it up to the community to finish it...

I would stay away

 

[Nabs]

Life Goes On is heading to Steam: http://www.lifegoesongame.com/

It's a puzzle-platformer that teaches you the importance of sacrifice. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEK6NzIBJVY

 

[More_Badass]

Life Goes On is heading to Steam: http://www.lifegoesongame.com/

It's a puzzle-platformer that teaches you the importance of sacrifice. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEK6NzIBJVY

That looks like my kind of game. Any news of price?

Edit: Demo is really fun. If it's any indication of the full game, they're going to get a lot of mileage out of the sacrificing and respawn mechanics

 

[Dog Problems]

I have read nothing but bad things about it, even form the KS backers, who it seems mostly feel betrayed as it looks like the devs essential made a skeleton game and left it up to the community to finish it...

I would stay away

Have you been to the official thread? A lot of people, myself included, really enjoyed the game. The story and immersive world are fantastic. It's definitely lacking in some areas but the aforementioned aspects are worth playing for alone, in my opinion.

For anyone else curious, you can read both very positive impressions as well as criticisms in the official thread:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=627956

 

[One Foul Note]

Life Goes On is heading to Steam: http://www.lifegoesongame.com/

It's a puzzle-platformer that teaches you the importance of sacrifice. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEK6NzIBJVY

That's a fairly cool game they're making there. I was a little hesitant cos the premise has been done on a fair few free flash games and the like, although it seems like they are putting their own spin on it a bit. Also the credits on the demo are really nicely done, one to watch out for I think.

 

[More_Badass]

Legend of Dungeon available for preorder on Steam
http://store.steampowered.com/app/238280

And I love the atmosphere in these screens

 

[PandaPedinte]

Legend of Dungeon available for preorder on Steam
http://store.steampowered.com/app/238280

And I love the atmosphere in these screens

And my wishlist keeps growing...

 

[More_Badass]

And my wishlist keeps growing...

And it's reasonably priced ($9.99), releasing on September 13th.

So now the tough choice: Shelter or LoD? A story driven adventure/exploration game with an intriguing premise and fantastic art style or a beautifully atmospheric pixel roguelike?

Or Papers Please?

 

[One Foul Note]

Legend of Dungeon available for preorder on Steam
http://store.steampowered.com/app/238280

And I love the atmosphere in these screens

That looks potentially quite interesting. I'm having a bit of a spirit quest lately where I learn that perhaps my irrational hatred of roguelikes is not due to the permadeath systems but rather the turn based concept of most of them. After all I am current really engrossed by Spelunky and I did enjoy Risk of Rain. This rise of the 'action roguelike' is really welcoming me to the genre.

 

[klinkcow]

That looks potentially quite interesting. I'm having a bit of a spirit quest lately where I learn that perhaps my irrational hatred of roguelikes is not due to the permadeath systems but rather the turn based concept of most of them. After all I am current really engrossed by Spelunky and I did enjoy Risk of Rain. This rise of the 'action roguelike' is really welcoming me to the genre.

I couldn't agree more! While I thought I would hate this type of thing, as long as the game gives you some form of persistence and growth, I'm for it!

 

[klinkcow]

Also, I played Mark of the Ninja, Special Edition (it was released on friday). Solid experience. I wish there was a little more added, but I'll take what I can get.

The developer commentary is pretty cool. I wish more games would do this.

 

[Hofmann]

Anyone willing to make Screenshot Saturday post this one time? I'm usually trying to pick up games that will suit different tastes, and not only mine, but fresh perspective would be welcome.

Spoiler

Ok, all this mumbling, but I'm just not in the mood today

 

[More_Badass]

Anyone willing to make Screenshot Saturday post this one time? I'm usually trying to pick up games that will suit different tastes, and not only mine, but fresh perspective would be welcome.

Spoiler

Ok, all this mumbling, but I'm just not in the mood today

Are we limited to only PC indies? Released games, upcoming, Kickstarters, etc? Can we use images already posted here (like that atmospheric dark Legend of Dungeon photo)?

 

[Hofmann]

Are we limited to only PC indies? Released games, upcoming, Kickstarters, etc? Can we use images already posted here (like that atmospheric dark Legend of Dungeon photo)?

It could be any platform. As for games, they're posted on Twitter with screenshotsaturday hashtag and grouped here for convenience, but devs keep posting them in other places, like devlogs or here on Gaf.

 

[More_Badass]

It could be any platform. As for games, they're posted on Twitter with screenshotsaturday hashtag and grouped here for convenience, but devs keep posting them in other places, like devlogs or here on Gaf.

Oh, so it's not just screenshots from random games, you choose screenshots from those sources?

 

[Hofmann]

Oh, so it's not just screenshots from random games, you choose screenshots from those sources?

Yeah, that's right. I browse through those lists; pick ones that look interesting; do some investigation and then post them here - like here for example: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75854679&postcount=612 (screenshot and a blurb), usually I pick about twenty games, and that's it.

 

[Dascu]

Hey, I can help out!

 

[More_Badass]

Yeah, that's right. I browse through those lists; pick ones that look interesting; do some investigation and then post them here - like here for example: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75854679&postcount=612 (screenshot and a blurb), usually I pick about twenty games, and that's it.

Ok, so only screenshots from those sites? I had seen some good ones for Krautscape and Audiosurf 2.

Hey, I can help out!

Nice. I'll definitely include that one

 

[Hofmann]

Ok, so only screenshots from those sites? I had seen some good ones for Krautscape and Audiosurf 2.

Yeah, that's how I've been doing it, but you can always smuggle something different if you want.

Hey, I can help out!

You're always welcome to post it here, of course other GAFers as well. This way I have less work to do

 

[Hofmann]

That's how Indie Statik is describing it:

Something rather beautiful in the game development community is Screenshot Saturday. Developers simply take a screenshot of what they’re working on, and then tweet it with the #screenshotsaturday hashtag, and it immediately appears on the website. It’s like magic, or something. In Screenshot Scrutiny, we select some of the more intriguing screenshots and delve into the information they hold!

 

[Hofmann]

I had seen some good ones for Krautscape and Audiosurf 2.

Oh, if you like Krautscape take a look at his other game - Mirage.

 

[More_Badass]

Taking over for Hofmann today
Enjoy!

Malebolgia - Malebolgia is an atmospheric horror action/adventure, set in a 19th century demonic fortress.

Spark Rising - The game puts you into the heart of the action as you defense against an invasion.

Krautscape - Krautscape is a multiplayer racing game - but this time, it's you who builds the road while driving!

Audiosurf 2 - Ride your music. Sprint your music. Swim your music. Workshop your music.

Indigo Lake - Indigo Lake is an open world first person psychological horror game set around an abandoned lake resort. (for IOS)

 

[More_Badass]

Death Road to Canada - It's a randomized permadeath road trip simulator. You and your group of survivors have to travel from Florida to Canada, making Choose Your Own Adventure style decisions. (for IOS)

Joan - It's a combat based auto runner, with pixel graphics, bosses, gory weapon effects, and a mysterious story.(for IOS)

Undead Overlord - Undead Overlord is an all-out mayhem Zombie Dominion RTS game where the goal is to create as much chaos as possible while wiping out the humans!

Hybris - Hybris is a psychological puzzle/platform thriller that will haunt your dreams and thoughts with its dark setting. As you fight for survival you will journey deep into your heart and soul and face a truth too unbearable to consider.

Fran Bow - Fran Bow is a Horror Point and click game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny. It is a trip to the deepest and darkest side of human psychology, delivered through blood and tears.

 

[Hofmann]

Taking over for Hofmann today
Enjoy!

Thanks, that's perfect. Sometimes you can find real gems out there, so it's definitely worth it.

Btw, if you're wondering, Toma is alive - he just sold his soul to Europa Universalis.

 

[More_Badass]

Neverending Nightmare - from Retro/Grade's Matt Gilgenbach, a sidescroller psychological horror game. In Nightmares, the game's lead wakes up from a horrific dream, only to discover he's only awakened in a new nightmare, the beginning of a terrible cycle that will create a basic structure for the narrative.

Bloody Alloy - Blood Alloy is a side-scrolling action/adventure game featuring dynamic combat, an expansive, dystopian world filled with shortcuts and secrets, vicious enemies, and a full range of weapons and abilities to master.

Curse - Curse is a first-person action/horror game. Explore a huge Egyptian Necropolis, filled with dangers and secrets.(and bloodthirsty worms). Experience a unique and intense, physics based combat system against mummies and demons.

Nostrum - Stealth flight sim with special consideration for the Oculus Rift and not making you vomit everywhere.

Honourbound - Honourbound is a 2D, side-scrolling beat ‘em up game focused on dynamic and visceral God of War-style combat in a feudal Japanese setting.

 

[More_Badass]

Thanks, that's perfect. Sometimes you can find real gems out there, so it's definitely worth it.

Btw, if you're wondering, Toma is alive - he just sold his soul to Europa Universalis.

Lol, I was wondering where he's been
No problem Hof. So that's 15 games, I'll see if there are any more that catch my eye.

Oh and guys, 7DFPS is over and the games are available to play.
Have at it:
http://7dfps.com/?action=games

 

[Hofmann]

Neverending Nightmare - from Retro/Grade's Matt Gilgenbach, a sidescroller psychological horror game. In Nightmares, the game's lead wakes up from a horrific dream, only to discover he's only awakened in a new nightmare, the beginning of a terrible cycle that will create a basic structure for the narrative.

Wow, really curious about this one.

 

[More_Badass]

Wow, really curious about this one.

The Neverending Nightmare of Retro/Grade Creator Matt Gilgenbach

Excerpt:

This is the worst possible outcome.

No, that's not even right. Retro/Grade creator Matt Gilgenbach says the financial failure of his game was actually worse than that.

"It didn't go very well at all; in fact it went pretty poorly," he says. "I'm not entirely sure why. I don't think we released at the best time. It was a busy time on PlayStation Network and there were some other big titles that had just come out, so certainly that didn't help us.

"The reviews were good, which is always nice, but the sales were much, much lower than I had anticipated in the worst-case scenario. It was very tough, to sort of write off all the time I had spent on Retro/Grade."

Eighty-hour, seven-day work weeks for four years. A high price, to say nothing of the toll on his mental health and marriage, and one that he exchanged — monetarily speaking — for nothing.

Even that's too generous, grim though it may be. He and his partner Justin Wilder spent $140,000, cleaning out their savings and tapping family for loans, to get the game made, and Retro/Grade hasn't even recouped that.

"I was in a bad emotional state leading up to release and I was thinking, 'Finally, things are going to get better,'" he says. "And they didn't."