Oh yes, it’s finally here! Noitu Love 2 is the very long awaited sequel to the original side-scrolling mighty-morphing action game from Konjak. Hit up the site for both an extended demo version and to purchase the full version online. The forums do seem to list some problems with getting order emails through, which seems mainly to do with PayPal (although it worked for me), so if you can avoid using that then maybe a better plan as there are a number of payment options, but if not I’m sure it’ll probably work out fine anyway.
$20 may seem a little high (edit: according to the comments, this is apparently only the case if you’re a student… bugger…), but I swear on my reputation as the most ‘occasional’ contributor to TIGSource that if you at least give the demo a try you will not be disappointed. And if you have already, then you’re probably too busy clicking the above link to read this. I understand. Do what you must. As well as the main 7-level IGF finalist game, the full version also offers a wealth of unlockable content, including one extra that’s so awesome I swear I’m running my second-playthrough pantless.
Josh Whelchel, aka “TwiTerror,” the musician behind such classic games as Bonesaw and The Spirit Engine, is currently raising money for the American Cancer Society, in a program called Relay for Life. Josh is offering free, digital copies of The Spirit Engine 2 Soundtrack (when it’s done) to anyone who donates over $5 to him for Relay for Life. Donors will also be listed in the credits of the soundtrack, and possibly the game (which is hopefully coming out soon).
The completed soundtrack will contain over two hours of original music composed specifically for the game. The music ranges from very cinematic style orchestral to jazz and ambient. I will be selling the soundtrack in various collections once it is completed, including a ~$20 (not an official announcement) complete soundtrack that can be purchased digitally or on compact discs.
All the money is going to the ACS, it’s a good cause, and you get some great music (and karma) for your kindness!
I wanted my next post to be about a game, but this is too fun not to share. Petri Purho has put up a gallery of crayon drawings he collected from various other indie developers at GDC this year.
Thanks for the tip, Data... who also happens to be the artist of the above image!
cactus and VilleK have set up a new blog for Lo-Fi Minds. Their inaugural post has screenshots and descriptions for their two current projects, Brain-Dead Toon Underworld (made for our VGNG Compo), and Secret Agent Hotel. Both games look/sound absolutely fantastic, natch.
I also thought this would be a good time to make a request for donations to our friend cactus. I’ve gotten more value and excitement from all his games than your average triple-A mainstream title. His work inspires me every day as a game designer and an artist.
cactus is incredibly creative and talented, but could definitely do more to market himself. But I really wonder if he should have to? Shouldn’t being good at making games be enough to make games for a living? I think so. And I’m dreaming about alternative business models to let people like cactus make great freeware and keep at it.
But until then, let’s give a little back to this supercool dude and support him on his quest to entertain and amaze us! Everyone who met him at GDC fell in love with him (for some coughBrandoncough, it was romantic love). He’s a really nice, genuine guy, who just wants to make games and be happy. It would be awesome for cactus to be able to put all his energy into being himself and not have to get a ho-hum job to make ends meet.
I’m putting in $20 to start, and suggesting $5-$20 donations from those who want to. We can’t easily keep track of how we’re doing, but feel free to post a comment letting us know why and/or how much you donated. I hope you do!
Donate here! (PayPal link at the bottom of the page.)
Wow, GDC… last year it was great, but 2008 was just friggin’ brilliant. I hope you enjoyed our hard-hittin’ (as in, the bottle) coverage last week, including all the photos and in-jokes (if you didn’t, then thanks for putting up with it). For me, having the TIGS community there in full force really made the conference. A bunch of funnier, more creative amateurs I have never met.
If there’s one thing I took from this conference, it’s that independent gaming is blowing up in a serious way. If you’re reading this, congratulations, you are witnessing some kind of history being made. What “indie” is going to be in ten years, or even next year, I don’t know. But for now, we’re making games we want to make, having fun doing it, and doing well at it… and people seem to think that’s a good thing:
But yeah, GDC-related posts will likely continue to trickle out through the rest of the month. I’ll also keep the GDC forum up a bit longer than planned, as I imagine there are still quite a few incriminating photos waiting to be posted, and stories waiting to be told.
If we didn’t see you this year, then we sure as hell better see you next year! In the meantime, don’t take any wooden monocles…
Hey, remember a little while ago when Tim was talking about selling his blog, getting out of the game, and living the rest of his days in quiet solitude atop a tower of pure currency? Well, thank goodness, he has changed his mind! Sort of.
It seems Simon Carless has finally found the true purpose for that (sweet, juicy) “IndieGames.com” domain that’s been lying around. Classy ladies and fine gentlemen, I present to you: Indie Games: The Weblog—Tim’s new and improved blog (and latest member of the CMP Game Group).
Update your bookmarks, folks! Indygamer is now officially defunct. But no worries—Tim and Simon (who I hear is “made of unicorn giggles and other
miracles”) have made it clear that this partnership will only improve upon the Indygamer foundation, not alter it.
In short: new name, new domain, higher visibility, funding…
Same great taste.
Read the official announcement here.
Find the new site here.
Oh, and best of luck to you, Tim! Here’s to many more years of unrelenting journalism. :)
Text the Halls is finished! A huge congratulations to everyone who took part, and to everyone who tried to take part!
We’ve had a total of ten entries, titled:
Breathe
Capture Santa!
The Christmas Party
Midwinter Rites
My Magic Tire Hoax
Panorama
Snowblind Aces
The Snowman
TIGSaga
X-Maton 2010
You can find more information (and download links) on the forums, as well as information on where you can find interpretors to play the games. Voting will run for a week, starting now [Edit: Due to a mess up on my part, we have to restart voting. If you’ve already voted, please take a moment to vote in the new thread (linked above).]. A lot of the entries are quite short, so that should be plenty of time to play them all and make your mind up!
Oh, and authors – we’re also holding a Miss Congeniality contest, IFComp style. Send me a PM on the forums with your votes if you want to take part!
