Author: Sally Mettson

Video producer, writer (and I dabble in social media too) for Nitchigamer. Having completed Fire Emblem Awakening, I'm now onto Sacred Stones - I'm just a little bit in love with it...

Hidden Gems: Steam indie games released this week (updated 19/05)

by Sally Mettson, posted in Features

Some great indie games released on Steam this week. Check them out, you might discover something wonderful in this mix:

Under That Rain

A gorgeous looking horror pixel-art adventure, inspired by the first classic point-and-click games.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/601960/agecheck

Mystery Mine

If you love old school pixelated 2D platformers this game is just the ticket…

http://store.steampowered.com/app/567170/Mystery_Mine/

SuperCluster: Void

A fresh take on RPG space adventure: command your fleet, battle your enemies and explore the galaxy.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/610740/SuperCluster_Void/

Empathy: Path of Whispers

Everyone’s Gone to the Rapture-esque surreal adventure game where you explore memories, emotions and puzzles from the people who once inhabited the world.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/291690/Empathy_Path_of_Whispers/

Vindictive Drive

A unique artsy cyberpunk stealth thriller game with twists and turns in the narrative.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/507400/Vindictive_Drive/

Iced

A gruelling first-person survival action simulation on ice – try to live, I dare you!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/575570/ICED/

Bounty Train

Explore this quirky game: build, upgrade and manage your steam train in 19th Century North America and shape events.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/371520/Bounty_Train/

Bitdude

A free VR game commemorating the 80’s arcade gaming icon everyone knows and loves.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/569370/Bitdude/

Fat Mask

A cutesy and quirky arcade puzzle brawler with the option of 1-4 players and a local multiplayer option.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/516790/Fat_Mask/

GRIDD: Retroenhanced

An arcade-style cyberpunk hacking shoot’em up – our review coming soon…

http://store.steampowered.com/app/553950/GRIDD_Retroenhanced/

Evil Possession

An atmospheric first person survival horror game – will you be able to face it?

http://store.steampowered.com/app/620700/EVIL_POSSESSION/

ALaLa: Wake Mi Up

This hide and seek dream VR party game looks to be a hit with friends and family.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/628820/ALaLa_Wake_Mi_Up/

Trigger Time

A top-down 2D shooter with physic puzzle elements and a badass soundtrack.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/512920/Trigger_Time/

Employee Recycling Centre

Solve puzzles in this first-person PC and VR adventure.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/629030/Employee_Recycling_Center/

Machine Hunt

Your aim is to destroy humanity in this first-person shooter… Maybe we need it.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/546930/Machine_Hunt/

Super Amazeballs

An energizing VR 3D dexterity puzzle game.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/594980/Super_Amazeballs/

Neverout

An unsettling mind bend of a unique puzzles this game for the HTC Vive.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/579720/Neverout/

Elevator

Keep an open mind of this VR and take a journey on the elevator simulator.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/625180/Elevator_VR/

Crypt Cards

A turn-based 3D online multiplayer card strategy game with a very nice soundtrack.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/553730/Crypt_Cards/

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Check out the Humble Indie Bundle 18 – featuring Owlboy, Goat Simulator: GOATY Edition, Windward, more!

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

yoyo-HB-01

Here at D-pad Joy we love indie games. And what better way to celebrate them is there than ‘The Humble Indie Bundle 18‘? Pay what you want for these indie games, cross-platform, DRM-free, and on Steam:

hib18_bundle_newsletter_grid

  • Owlboy
  • Kentucky Route Zero
  • Beholder
  • Goat Simulator: GOATY
  • Ziggurat
  • Windward
  • SteamWorld Heist

There are eleven days left to take advantage of the offer, with more indie games coming next week as well. Do any of these games take your fancy? Let us know in the comments below.

Indie Profile: Grip Digital – Creators of Mothergunship

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

Intro

Grip Digital is a privately owned developer and publisher of video games and was founded in 2009. They are based in the Czech Republic.

Their games have featured on PC, PS4, Wii U, PS Vita, PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

History

Grip Digital was created by veterans in the games industry: Jakub Mikyska and Jan Cabuk. They have collaborated with developers, studios and brands across the globe to bring out their games on various platforms.

They focus on making games for consoles and PC.

Games

Here’s a list of the games that Grip Digital have developed:

mothergunship.jpg

  • 5-in-1 Arcade Hits
  • One Epic Game
  • Atomic Ninjas
  • Jet Car Stunts
  • Unmechanical: Extended
  • The Solus Project
  • Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island
  • Mothergunship

Videos

You can view videos for each of Grip Digital’s titles below:

Inspirations

  • Quake
  • Doom

Key Players

Jakub Mikyska – Founder, Game Developer and Co-CEO

Jkub

Jan Cabuk – Co-Founder and Co-CEO

Jan

Future Projects

Mothergunship

Support

Support Grip Digital by buying their games from the following places:

Grip Digital’s latest game, Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island, is out the 19th of May on Steam, PS4 and Xbox One.

Contact

contact@grip-digital.com

Social Media

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Website

http://www.grip-digital.com

Indie Profile: Dreadlocks – Creators of Dex

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

Intro

Dreadlocks Ltd is a young startup company that has been making games since 2011. They are passionate about utilising modern technology.

Their games have featured on PC, PS4, PS Vita and Xbox One.

History

Dreadlocks is an indie developer studio based in Czech Republic, Prague. It was founded by a group of students from Czech Technical University.

They focus on tailored multi-platform games, AR and VR.

Games

Here’s a list of the games that Dreadlocks have developed:

Ghost Theory

  • Dex
  • Ghost Theory (in progress)

Videos

You can view videos for each of Dreadlock’s titles below:

Inspirations

  • Castlevania
  • Resident Evil

Team

Team

Future Projects

Ghost Theory

Others unknown

Support

Support Dreadlocks by buying their games from the following places:

Contact

info@dreadlocks.cz

Social Media

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Website

http://en.dreadlocks.cz/

Gamecast: Prey: The Opening Hour Demo – With Sally Mettson Part 2

by Sally Mettson, posted in Features

Hi everyone, here’s part 2 of my time on the Prey: Opening Hour Demo. Suprisingly, I did feel scared whilst playing the demo, not PT levels of scared, but quite jumpy.

The music was very atmospheric and at times you could hear Morgan, the main protagonist, breathing as much as I was!

You can check out part 2 as I try to find my way around!

Gamecast: Prey: The Opening Hour Demo – With Sally Mettson

by Sally Mettson, posted in Features

Sally here. I played the recently released Prey: Opening Hour Demo in celebration of the game coming out this week. You can also read what Chris thought about the demo if you prefer the written way of doing things!

I haven’t had much experience with FPS games but I gave it a go anyway. I really liked the test subject idea, it made me feel unsure of whether I was the enemy or the catalyst for the whole nightmare that unfolded. Is everything in this world a simulation? That I’m not sure of yet.

Check out the first part of my video below:

Indie Profile: Tribute Games – Creators of Flinthook

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

Intro

Tribute Games has been steadily creating fun and challenging video games since 2011. They use modern game development processes and technology to design new original titles.

Their games have featured on PC, PS4, PS Vita and Xbox One.

History

Tribute Games is an indie game studio based in Montreal, Canada. It focuses on retro games for PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

It was founded in 2011 by former Ubisoft employees Jonathan Lavigne, Jean-Francois Major and Justin Cyr.

Games

Here’s a list of the games that Tribute Games have developed:

Flinthook

  • Ninja Senki
  • Wizorb
  • Mercenary Kings
  • Curses ‘N’ Chaos
  • Ninja Senki DX
  • Flinthook

Videos

You can view videos for each of Tribute Game’s titles below:

Inspirations

  • Castlevania
  • Metroid
  • Mega Man

Team Members

The most important bit – the creators themselves.

Jonathan Lavigne – Game Developer and Co-founder of Tribute Games

Jonathan Lavigne

Jean-Francois Major – Programmer and Co-founder at Tribute Games

JFMajor

Justin Cyr – Indie animator/game designer, 2D pixel art specialist and Co-founder at Tribute Games

Justin Cyr

Future Projects

Currently unknown.

Support

Support Tribute Games by buying their games from the following places:

Contact

info@tributegames.com

Social Media

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

Twitch

Website

https://tributegames.com/

Indie Profile: Curve Digital – Creators of Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

Intro

Curve Digital‘s mission is simple: develop and publish great video games. Their office is based in central London. The team is made up of creative individuals who have developed games for a long time.

Their games have featured on the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, PC and Xbox One.

History

Curve Digital is a British game developer that was founded in 2005. In 2013, the developer began publishing games as well. In 2016, they were acquired by The Catalis Group and merged with their own development branch Kuju to form the publishing entity Curve Digital Entertainment.

Games

Here’s a list of the games that Curve Digital have developed:

Stealth INC 2

  • Fluidity
  • Explodemon
  • Stealth Bastard
  • Fluidity: Spin Cycle
  • Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones

Videos

You can view videos for each of Curve Digital’s games below:

Inspirations

So what inspired Curve Digital to get into video game development? Ring any bells:

  • Mega Man
  • Oddworld

Future Projects

Human Fall Flat – Pre-orders available now

Support

Support Curve Digital by buying their games from the following places:

Contact

hello@curve-digital.com

Social Media

@curvedigital

Website

http://www.curve-digital.com/

Indie Profile: Acid Nerve – Creators of Titan Souls

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

Intro

Acid Nerve is a two man team from Manchester based in the United Kingdom. The studio was founded in December 2013. The team’s first full game was Titan Souls – released in April 2015 for the PS4, PS Vita, and PC.

History

Acid Nerve’s Mark Foster and David Fenn met at a local game developer meetup in Manchester where they made a Christmas themed game in one day for an advent challenge; the game was called ‘Pantsless Santa’ and was the first Acid Nerve game.

The game making duo then went on to do a game jam in Ludum Dare 26 with the theme ‘Minimalism’, in which they made a game called ‘Leaf Me Alone’. This won the overall game jam.

They decided to do another Ludum Dare for LD28, and teamed up with artist Andrew Gleeson to make the jam version of Titan Souls. This jam game got noticed by the publisher Devolver Digital and the rest is history as they say.

Games

Here’s a list of the games that Acid Nerve have developed:

Titan Souls

  • Leaf Me Alone
  • Titan Souls
  • Fruitwolf
  • Telepaint

Videos

You can view videos for each of Acid Nerve’s games below:

Inspirations

So what inspired Acid Nerve to get into video game development? Well, you may recognise some of the following titles:

  • The Legend of Zelda
  • Sonic the Hedgehog
  • Dark Souls
  • Shadow of the Colossus

Team Members

The most important bit – the creators themselves.

Mark Foster – Programmer, Designer, Director

Mark

David Fenn – Musician, Sound Designer, Director

David Fenn

Acid Nerve also collaborate with artists from around the world, such as Andrew Gleeson who worked on Titan Souls. They also worked with the artist Angus Dick on Fruitwolf.

Future Projects

Currently unknown.

Support

Support Acid Nerve by buying their games from the following places:

Contact

mark@acidnerve.com

Social Media

twitter.com/acidnerve

facebook.com/acidnerve

https://www.youtube.com/user/ClawhammerGames

Website

acidnerve.com

Ghost Recon: Wildlands top in weekly UK all formats chart – 22 April 2017

by Sally Mettson, posted in Nintendo, Posts

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands hit the top of the UK all formats chart this week, beating Grand Theft Auto V (still performing well after all this time) and FIFA 17 to the top spot.

Horizon Zero Dawn jumped up 5 places while Breath of the Wild slipped back a single place. Battlefield 1 stayed secure in the same place it was last week and Mass Effect: Andromeda jumped three places forward.

You can check out the full list below. Did you pick up any of these games in the UK recently?

1.png

Source: Chart Track

The Walking Dead Episode 4

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier’s Episode 4 Coming April 25th – Things Get Serious

by Sally Mettson, posted in Posts

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier’s upcoming Episode 4: ‘Thicker Than Water’ is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC on April 25th. Here’s a synopsis of all the horrible stuff to come:

‘Upon discovering the true nature of the New Frontier’s leadership, relationships within the Garcia family have come to a head. As Javier, you will decide the shape and nature of your chosen family. All the while, a herd of walkers moves ever closer to Richmond, putting pressure on allies and enemies alike. With distrust running rampant, you’ll have to determine if blood is thicker than water…’

You can check out the new trailer for episode 4 below:

Story changes, new stages, characters and bug fixes come to Super Bomberman R in free update

by Sally Mettson, posted in Nintendo, Posts

Well it seems that Konami does care after all: a new update has been released today for Super Bomberman R on the Nintendo Switch that adds lots of additional content, and fixes quite a few bugs too.

Update version 1.3 adds and changes the following for early Nintendo Switch adopters:

  • Four new VS stages have been added to the shop (White Cross, Lagoon, Max Speed, Power Zone, seen below)

Screenshot_2.png

  • Two new series of accessories have been added to the shop (Crowns and Bombs)
  • The frame rate of the entire game has been improved. Konami also made slight adjustments and has improved the controls as well
  • Less lags are likelier to happen when every participant in the Online Battle mode has a good network connection. (If you want to find opponents with a good connection, set Other > Basic Settings > Network Settings to the very left)
  • They have made it possible to press L/R to change the inclination of the map in the Story Mode. Other > Basing Settings will also allow you to fix the camera position as well
  • You can now choose the strength of the COM on the Multiplayer Battle Mode
  • The strength of the Five Dastardly Bombers on the Story Mode have been adjusted (phew)
  • The difficulties of Beginner and Normal have been reduced, making it easier to beat them
  • They have adjusted the heights and slopes on some maps to improve the visibility
  • If you continue a certain number of times in the Story Mode, you will be able to continue without paying anymore gems
  • Changed the BP (Battle Point) increase/decrease rate for the League Battle
  • Fixed other various small bugs

That’s not all though, as Konami has promised to continue supporting the game with free DLC down the line. Next up are some new characters based off famous Konami franchises, including:

  • Vic Viper Bomber (from Gradius)

4

  • Belmont Bomber (from Castlevania)

2

  • Pyramid Head Bomber (from Silent Hill)

31.jpg

We assume these awesome characters will be coming in a few months time.

It’s great to see the game actually get supported after launch. For early adopters, does this tempt you to jump back in?