TIGSource: GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY

GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY

Derek Yu — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:24:00 +0000

In a world… of gentlemen…

When filthy pigeons plague the city…

One owl will rise to the challenge…

To take back the night sky with fury and malevolence.

Will that owl be you?

PLAY OWL COUNTRY NOW. LEARN THE TRUE STORY.

Programming

Ivan “toastie” Safrin
Mark “Golds” Johns (Doomlaser)
Alec “Alec” Holowka (Bit Blot)

Art

Adam “AdamAtomic” Saltsman (Homepage)
Mark Johns
Ivan Safrin
Kevin “Greater Beast” Coulton

Music

Alec Holowka

Voices

Owl – Tommy “Tommunism” Refenes (Pillowfort)

Narrator – Phil Fish (Kokoromi/Polytron)

Gentlemen – Brandon “BMcC” McCartin, Ivan Safrin, Adam Saltsman, Tommy Refenes, Mike Lee

Combos – Mark Johns

Misc. Owl – Steve Swink (Flashbang)

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by greg

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:44:04 +0000

Game is great but high score is reset after you quit

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Melly

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:05:20 +0000

TIGS is the kind of place that allows for a lot in inside jokes to pop out, yes, and I agree that a FAQ would help the newbs, but for the most part the community is very friendly (as long as you’re friendly yourself and follow the simple rules) and it’s easy to get into the hang of things. If you have doubt about something just pop a question and a thread link should quickly be available to answer all your doubts.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by chrisk

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:27:56 +0000

Interesting art style.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by jenn(atar)

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:49:00 +0000

Priceless. Once I mastered my swoop, I was hooked. I was that owl, filled with the boiling blood of a feathery night hunter.

That fog was MAD DASTARDLY, though.

Speaking of monocles, I was google-image-searching pince-nez for fun, and it was really lucrative.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Golds

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:01:57 +0000

OC takes place in Montral so the accents make no sense, just like real life :)

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Will Vale

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:08:21 +0000

I like the idea of swooping, but I found the swoop controls a bit weird - maybe I was expecting something a bit more analogue?

Anyway, great presentation and I’m impressed that you’ve managed to make an in-joke game that’s still funny for those of us on the outside. Congrats on supporting the ‘occasional commenter’ market!

My one real gripe is that you need some real British v/o talent. Or maybe I should just acknowledge that it’s possible for gentlemen to hail from other nations…

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by aeiowu

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:22:34 +0000

awesome job guys. this rocks

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by cactus

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:59:42 +0000

I beat it. I think… Only 95 kills, though. I was impressed by the presentation, the music and graphics really go well together! And the gameplay was cool too :)

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Golds

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:44:24 +0000

fishy, you have a valid complaint. i think the controls and gameplay are unintuitive to the beginner. But I also think that once you get how it works works, it’s a really fun little jaunt.

But the point of the game to me was more the spirit of working with other TIGers, and trying to make something cool together in a short timespan. and in that it was a success. and i hope some of everyone’s talents shine through….

don’t hold owl country to a higher standard than diamond rider ;)

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Fishy Boy

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:34:04 +0000

I don’t know, TIGSource can get pretty fervent when it wants to.

I still think graphics options would be nice.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Alec

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:04:28 +0000

The comments about you just not getting it are jokes, btw. ;)

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Fishy Boy

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:39:17 +0000

All the people arguing that I’m a fool because I just “don’t get it” are having the same ridiculous mentality of any console fanboy. I think the game itself is not very good, but the assets (art, writing, sound) are done very well. I’m sorry if liking good gameplay is wrong, but that’s how I feel.

Perhaps my computer isn’t doing it justice, since it feels like the frame rate was halved. Some graphics options would help.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Gr.Viper

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 09:39:41 +0000

You forgot Tiger Sauce…

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by bateleur

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:07:52 +0000

One down side to this community’s unique esprit d’corps is it does make it hard for a newbie/lurker/what-have-you to feel like they can jump right in.

I think all that’s needed is a simple FAQ.

TIGFAQ v0.1

Q: Are monocles awesome?
A: Yes.
Q: Are owls awesome?
A: Yes.
Q: Are dinosaurs awesome?
A: Yes.
Q: What about other awesome stuff? Is that awesome?
A: Yes.
Q: What about pigeons?
A: Not so much, no.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Nikica

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:28:20 +0000

No Country for old Pigeons !!!

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Sic Jake

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:31:14 +0000

Epic presentation. Truly if God were to decend from the heavens he surely would sport a monocle, and should pigeons poop on said eyewear why by justice would our Lord not smite with the grand vengence only possible thru OWL?!

I THINK SO!!

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Guesst

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:57:48 +0000

how does this happen? I’ve been on several message boards but never have I seen the community built up with such… accessories like I have on the tigsource forums. The monocle, the owl, and now the pigeons. Can a single individual be credited with this or did it literally “just happen?”

One down side to this community’s unique esprit d’corps is it does make it hard for a newbie/lurker/what-have-you to feel like they can jump right in. On the plus side, tho, it’s a lot of fun.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by toastie

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:01:15 +0000

It’s next gen and as such, you need a 3d card.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Cow

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:39:50 +0000

Runs crazy slow on my computer. And I was all ready to hail it as a masterpiece of modern interactive experiences. :(

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Alec

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:32:12 +0000

Also, please note that Owl Country is not a “game”.

Its an “Interactive Experience”.

Do not attempt to trivialize our masterwork.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Golds

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:07:29 +0000

it starts off slow, but builds. the controls have a… learning curve. the swoop em up is a new genre.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Alec

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:57:48 +0000

Fishy Boy: Learn how to play it.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by shinygerbil

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:49:37 +0000

you just don’t get it.

THIS IS THE WORLD OF THE OWL.

it is madness.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Fishy Boy

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:45:01 +0000

Really slow, and the gameplay isn’t fun. Everything else is good. I personally think this would work better as a shmup of some sort, instead of the current madness it is now.

"GDC 2008: OWL COUNTRY" by Paul Eres

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:13:38 +0000

One of the best indie game trailers ever (up there with Zoo Race and Barkley: Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden).