The Independent Games Magazine Issue Six, Spring 2015

Serious, authentic and grim? Not this Second World War VR shooter...

ALSO IN ISSUE FIVE

FEATURES REGIONAL EVENTS NEXT GEN BATMAN: ARKHAM Beyond Flesh We talk to Allyza We were at The Google KNIGHT ARK, THE and Blood, Taylor, Mineski’s 2015 in LA, the Play Store is WITCHER 3: WILD Super Dungeon Shoutcaster worlds’s biggest not without its HUNT, AND ARK Bros, and so from the and best games flaws, says our SURVIVAL EVOLVED much more Philippines event. Next Gen gamer REVIEWED 2 MARCH 2015 ISSUE FIVE IND13.COM Contents

Editorial Pages 38 - 40 Page 4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Indie games are going full ahead... Pages 42 - 46 Ark: Survival Evolved IND13 &A Page 6 Allyza Taylor Can you tell us about a positive Pages 48 - 52 experience you’ve had working in We caught up with allyza Taylor, independent gaming? Mineski’s Events Team Commentator/ Shoutcaster to know if there’s more to Beyond Flesh and Blood “gaming” than what she has now as a Pages 8 - 11 shoutcaster. A new apocalyptic game set, of all places, in Manchester The Kraken Sleepeth Pages 54 - 56 Super Dungeon Bros. The new game from Team Pesky, the Pages 12 - 16 studion set up by Andy Gibson. A cross platform, rock music themed, co-op dungeon brawler Google Play Pages 58 - 59 War for the Overlord Google Play is the official go-to place Pages 18 - 24 for Android games. But, is it all that it Harry Cole and Lee Smith talk to seems? Lee Moon – Community Manager at Subterranean Game. Brighter Day Pages 60 - 63 World War Toon Probably the most colourful horror Pages 26 - 32 game you will ever play. A humorous first person shooter and tank combat game set in a whimsical, E3 Expo 2015 toon inspired world. Pages 64 - 68 Richard, IND13’s globe trotting Sirius Gaming Reviews Section developer, went to the Pages 34 - 36 conference in LA. Batman: Arkham Knight Develop. Brighton. 2015 Pages 69 - 70 Richard went from LA to Brighton, to attend the annual Develop conference for the first, and not the last, time.

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 3 FEATURE: Editorial

Indie games are

The Independent Games Magazine Issue Six, Spring 2015 going full Steam ahead...

1850 games arrived on Steam in 2014, 2500 are predicted in 2015... That is a hell of a figure, and is one that was exclaimed earlier this Serious, authentic and grim? Not this Second year by TinyBuild’s Mike Rose. World War VR shooter...

ALSO IN ISSUE FIVE

FEATURES REGIONAL EVENTS NEXT GEN BATMAN: ARKHAM Essentially what that means is that indie gaming is in good shape. Beyond Flesh We talk to Allyza We were at EGX The Google KNIGHT ARK, THE and Blood, Taylor, Mineski’s 2015 in LA, the Play Store is WITCHER 3: WILD Super Dungeon Shoutcaster worlds’s biggest not without it’s HUNT, AND ARK Every year more gamers are turning towards the indie developers Bros, and so from the and best games flaws, says our SURVIVAL EVOLVED much more Philippines event. Next Gen gamer REVIEWED for their gaming fix which means that, not only do developers earn a little money to help them continue making games, but that more IND13 is a magazine dedicated to independent developers are working on games buoyed on by an increasingly games. Our aim is to create interesting news, successful market. reviews and articles, all focusing on independent games. The nucleus of our team is based in the UK but also have a team stretching the globe. We Steam, the PC retail behemoth, currently has 125 million active have independent gaming news from all gaming accounts. 125 million potential buyers, and a market that is always territories including UK, US, Europe and Asia. eager to try out new and inventive titles.

The team behind IND13 are all volunteers, and we If you can gain the the attention of YouTubers, Mike has said, and are giving our time because we are passionate get the marketing right, a top selling title can sell 3 million units. about indie games. The content of the magazine A game that does the bare minimum can still expect to shift 1000 will be made up of articles created by the IND13 copies. And big or small games can both benefit from sales spikes in team but also by voluntary contributors from the later thanks to the legendary Steam sales. games industry.

Of course, gaming is not all about the PC, but with the console Advertising is available in the magazine, and all proceeds will go into the development and market increasingly open to indie games now, and the mobile stability of IND13’s production. Please contact market seeing no sign of a slow down in business (quite the us to discuss the bespoke packages that we can opporsite actually), the indie gaming world has never been so offer all advertisers. good. In terms of mobile games, 500 games a day were going up on iOS in 2014, compared to 250 a day on Android. That’s a day. An If you would like to contribute, email us an incredible amount. Of course, that figure probably includes a fair example of your work. amount of clones, but it is still pretty incredible anyway.

We hope you enjoy the magazine and please do Even the U has seen 80 indie games released in it’s eShop. The get in touch with questions and comments. top price for a title on the eShop is around $15. However, Rose has warned that after the initial exposure of launch, developers The Team: Richard Hoffmann: Editor-in-Chief could struggle to stimulate sales. Harry Cole: Publisher Lee Smith: Creative Director In this issue of IND13, the sitxh, we are featuring some of the best indie games currently out there, and in developement, including Our Channels: Beyond Flesh and Blood, Super Dungeon Bros, War for the Website: www.ind13.com Overlord, World War Toon and more. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ind13 Twitter: @official_Ind13 So, in short, carry on playing those games. Carry on making them, blogging about them, vlogging about them, because the indie Contacts: game industry is thriving, and is here to stay. For editorial enquires: [email protected] For advertising enquires: [email protected] Lee Smith, Creative Director, ind13

4 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND mag ad copy.pdf 1 21/03/2014 15:10

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IND13.COM MARCH 2015 ISSUE FIVE 5 MINIWORLDGAMES IS A GAMES STUDIO POWERED BY FEATURE: IND13 Q&A

Can you tell us about a positive experience you’ve had working in independent gaming?

HARRY SOPHIE RICHARD LEE JENNIFER LEX

Harry that you only see once you open All in all, being in the gaming industry There’s a great sense of community your eyes, unwire your brain from is actually fun, yet a bit stressful throughout the games industry and corporate mediocrity, and embrace at times. But doing what we’re this goes into Indie gaming too, which the weird, the wacky, and the passionate about has always been makes working with Indie games a wonderful. our goal and it overlooks the bad side positive experience all-round. of things in the industry. So I am lucky that I have managed to But a personal experience would be get out there and experience a life Richard working with individual developers outside of the AAA games, and you Working in independent gaming who take on their dream project and should too. is one of the most liberating bring it to life. experiences, as you can do anything Lex to a game - no questions asked, well Seeing someone dedicated to doing Our team is actually new in the except if you add a Goat to it... every aspect of a game themselves, games industry; and we are doing that’s really special to witness and our best to give out every best Sophie be a part of. quality way possible for our readers Seeing our first blasted and visitors. all over the front page of the PSN Lee store, eShop and One It is all about those damned games The games community is big, bigger store and thinking ‘wow, anything is because, when you work within the than what older people have ever possible’. indie gaming world, you play games imagined. We want our voices to that challenge your thinking in a be heard, opinions to be noticed, Jennifer more creative way. and our critics to be accepted. The You can never predict who you’ll experience so far as a journalist in end up sharing a beer with! The Games that slap you around the the industry was actually great. conviviality of the industry means face shouting “hey, gaming isn’t just that I’ve been able to hang out about GTA you know fool!” We were given a chance to interview with some of my personal heroes. great people like Adam Kovic, review Everybody’s excited about each It is truly a rich and varied gaming great and mediocre games, and most others’ work - we never run out of world out there, full of the sort of importantly write feature articles things to talk about! « challenges, variety and invention related to gaming.

6 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM

FEATURE: Beyond Flesh and Blood

EARTH IS IN RUINS AFTER THE GLOBAL WAR... AND IT IS UP TO YOU TO SAVE IT.

Beyond Flesh and Blood is a new apocalyptic game set, of all places, in Manchester. Harry Cole had a Q&A session with the makers PixelBomb Games about their horror-genre action- shooter.

Phil Muwanga, Lead Dev, Code Lee Blacklock, Lead Dev, Design Jane McConnell, Community Manager Scott Wells-Foster, 3D Generalist

8 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 9 FEATURE: Beyond Flesh and Blood

Could you introduce yourself, tell us UK, I am very proud of its chosen location demos? The violence is easier to palate the about the team and your studio? - Manchester. I just have to wait until we more extreme it is, as it takes on a cartoon- Phil: OK. Hello! We’re Pixelbomb Games, make the Preston version haha. esque vibe. a studio from Manchester in the UK. Some people call Manchester the second Lee: Interestingly, when people ask us What is the backstory to the game? city of England… We started in 2011 what the genre of the game is, we say What was the inspiration behind as a collective before joining forces as that it’s a third-person action shooter, it’s the game? a company, and we’ve been developing different from your typical mech shooter. Phil: The backstory is quite interesting, Beyond Flesh and Blood, along with which you’ll see played out in the building a studio, for the last four years. It’s a third-person game, you just happen introduction to the game. to be controlling mechs. We absolutely What is the history of Pixel Bomb love robots and all forms of them, from Why Manchester, why choose such and the details of your games the Japanese ones to the big stomping a specific setting? What has this careers? western mechs, so things like Steel localisation brought to the game? Lee: Well, I’ve worked with EA and Blade Battalion were a big influence. Scott: If you mean localisation in terms Interactive over the last 10 years. of Manchester – then it’s brought us easy Scott: We have an amazing artist called reference material! It’s literally outside. Phil: I’ve been an indie developer from the Tony who is looking after a lot of the get go, I had a game called Balls, and then overgrown greenery in the game – and Are we going to see United shirts Funky Balls for Xbox back in the day. he actually goes outside looking for these and Oasis posters? :) invasive plants that Manchester has on Lee: We get asked this a lot! Haha. We Jane: My background’s a bit different to the streets already, and scans them in for haven’t got any plans yet to put any Oasis the rest, from independent film, events design. references into the game, I don’t know and TV land. our Oasis knowledge would do their fans Phil: The interesting thing is that you can’t justice! Scott: I’m new! I graduated from UCLAN die in this game. You’re in a space station in Games Design last year, but I originally in orbit, so if your suit is killed then they Jane: Ah, the football question. It would started out in photography and graphic just send in another suit from orbit. be cool, but given both our own team’s design. split with United and City supporters, I’m an old-school gamer – I like games as well as a few other teams out here, In your own words, how would you that are hard, that you actually have to Pixelbomb’s taken a decidedly on-the- describe your game? think about them and learn the gameplay fence approach to this. Might not stop one Scott: Beyond Flesh and Blood is quite mechanics, which is what we’re doing with of the designers from popping a few simply, a gory and intense game which our game. Indeed, we have been described funny easter eggs in there though. They takes a lot from what you might expect as a ‘hardcore’ rather than an ‘implusive’ might not even be Manchester related. in a mech shooter… then changes those product, which is confusing but we guess You’ll have to get the game to find them! expectations by placing it in a UK setting, it’s true. letting mechs climb into other mechs, and As for Oasis… personally I’d like to see with it being story-driven as a single player You can say also that it’s fairly gory. I hope some gothic soundtrack references to Joy experience. Also, as a northerner in the you’ve experienced that for yourself in our Division, Manchester Pale Ale posters

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10 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM and a rebel that looks like John Robb, “we have been described as a but life’s unfair, the war for resources clearly finished them all off. There is an ‘hardcore’ rather than an ‘implusive’ independent soundtrack being scored right now for the game though, which is product, which is confusing but we exciting. guess it’s true...” If mechs were to Be Here Now, then Manchester would be a different place Deansgate, Great Northern Warehouse, creating AR to explain the real-world entirely. You could say there are themes Triangle, the big wheel that the council significance of certain famous buildings in Beyond Flesh and Blood which relate and the guys that own it are fighting about we’ve scaled in the game’s version of to concepts of existence that Cast No at the moment; Beetham Tower, the back Manchester, which adds depth and Shadow….get it… Wait, it’s OK, I’ll let of Quay Street…most of the city centre. familiarity to the story, where the old order myself out. of things is destroyed – it’s the perfect You received tax breaks, how has contrast. The team is relatively newly formed, this helped you create the game, what have the challenges been for what has it made possible? Jane: It’s a huge step forward for making you? Phil: Made the money to go further. the UK better for developers, UKIE and Lee: We’ve not really had difficulties, but It’s your bread and butter as a business TIGA worked and lobbied really hard to it’s more about the amount of choices above it all, as that money goes back into make that happen. we’ve got – we’ve got to keep narrowing it production and lowers the risk. down. Like Phil said, there’s lots of themes These kind of breaks happen already for we’d like to explore but it’s a case of just Basically, it’s enabled us to achieve the film and big budget TV production, so it how many of these we can effectively plan: make a big, bombastic game about makes sense to make the whole creative explore in the timeframe. our city. playing field equal.

You have a very British team, with And how did it work in terms of When is the game out and how do members straight out of Uni, has application and receiving the you expect will be received? this created a very British game? breaks? Scott: There will be announcements soon! Phil: BF&B is set in Britain – Manchester Phil: The help from BFI was quick and It might not be wise to predict how people specifically. It will feature a British cast, friendly. It wasn’t as if we were waiting will react to the game – as long as gamers and it’s made in Manchester by a local around for decisions. It’s continuing to be enjoy it, people recommend it and we’re team… Britain! Manchester! It was always a good experience for the studio. able to make another one, that’s what we going to be set in Manchester because it’s can hope for. « the city that’s adopted us misfits, creatively. How do the tax breaks work, and affect the day-to-day business? Is Beyond Flesh and Blood has been Greenlit by Are your environments based on the British government making it the Steam Community, and you can find out real life Manchester? Will there be popular to Develop games in the UK? more about it here: parts we recognise? Phil: We’ve added historically accurate www.beyondfleshandbloodgame.com Scott: Loads. Town Hall, Albert Square, ideas into the game. For example, we’re

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 11 FEATURE: Super Dungeon Bros

Axl Click for video content

12 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Super Dungeon Bros, a cross platform, rock music themed, co-op dungeon brawler

Harry Cole talks to Chad Lee and What is the ethos of the team, Brad Moss, from React Games, what sort of games to you strive to about the upcoming game. create? Chad Lee We strive to create compelling, Could you introduce yourself, tell us innovative games without a particular about the team and your studio? regard to a certain genre. Our first game, My name is Chad Lee, I am the CEO of Archon, was a strategy/action game, while React Games and I’ve been in the industry Super Dungeon Bros is a co-op roguelike 21 years now. I come from the creative game. We strive to be the best at whatever side, working as an artist and animator we’re given, or decide to develop ourselves. before starting React in 2008. We have Internally, we have a variety of players, for Ozzie over 30 people now working on Super instance, one of our guys was ranked #1 in Dungeon Bros and a few other projects. the world for Spelunky on the PlayStation Our team consists of some of the best Vita and another was a tournament talent in the world. Most of the team has HALO player … then there’s me, who been together since the beginning and generally plays mobile games when I get we’ve shipped over 50 titles across various the chance. platforms for some of the top clients in the world, including Dreamworks, Disney, Brad Moss We focus on finding fun in EA, Intel, , Hasbro and others. new places. This means we aren’t overly We’ve been very fortunate to be on the heavy in one specific genre, although I’ve cutting edge of innovation for many of our noticed the team enjoys their work the projects, doing things that have never been most when making multiplayer games. seen or done in the industry. We’re all gamers too, with several members of our team being top My name is Brad Moss and I’m the ranked players in President of React games and I’ve been games such as a gamer all my life. I started out making Spelunky, Geometry games in Hypercard on my parent’s Mac in Wars, Halo, and the early 80s. We have a strong studio with Guitar Hero. Chad and some of the best developer talent in the myself are world. We’ve shipped over 50 games in our big on 7 year history. I applaud my team in their accessibility ability to do big innovative things really to all quickly. Because of their talent we’ve done players, so stuff for Dreamworks, Disney, EA, Intel, we do have a Microsoft, Hasbro and others. healthy focus

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 13 FEATURE: Super Dungeon Bros

on making our games accessible. That Bandicoot) in one capacity or another. In your own words, how would you DOESN’T mean lacking depth or skill I loved animation, so in 2000, I left the describe Super Dungeon Bros? though – as you’d guess our guys make games industry to start an animation Chad Lee The best co-op roguelike sure we always have depth for core gamers. company, then came back to gaming in dungeon brawler on the planet. 2008 when I started React. What got you into making games? What was the inspiration behind What’s your career history so far? Brad Moss I was making games since the game? Why did you make it? Chad Lee Getting into games was purely I was a kid. I remember the first game Chad Lee It came about during some accidental. Back in my day (I’m old I ‘modded’ was “Archon”. After that I down time between projects. We enough, so now I can say that) there made a game with a kid in Canada over wanted to enter something into the were no gaming degrees or anything like ICQ program. I got into college, did film KILLSCREEN/OUYA competition back that. You went to college to become an studies (there were no game programs in 2013 and the team developed a funky accountant or something respectable. I at that time). But alas, before I finished dungeon crawler. It quickly became a never thought you could make money my degree, I had a job in a local game company passion as we saw the potential developing video games. Fortunately a dev studio. After that I did an MBA of what it might become. The more we small gaming company put an ad in the and worked for Amazon as a business played the more fun we had with the local paper, I applied as an artist leader. But the excitement and speed co-op elements, so we iterated the design and the rest is history. I’ve of innovations in games drew me a few times and ended up with what you worked on almost every back, and I’m really happy to be see now. platform from SNES on up. in such a fun I’ve worked on some of the and exciting What is the setting of the game, best franchises in the world industry. where do the dungeons come into it? (Mortal Kombat 2, WWF Chad Lee You play as one of 4 Bros (Axl, Raw, Crash Ozzie, Lars and Freddie) who love the Rock-n-Roll lifestyle, even though they can’t play any instruments. They’re based in a medieval fantasy universe of Rökheim and love to live fast without much regard to the future. They’ve heard a cry for help from one of their favourite Rock Stars and have entered the dungeons to help him and be the heroes they always dreamed of being.

What are the bosses like? Big Demons I hope. Freddie Chad Lee The bosses are varied and impressive. The main of Cryptheim (the first level in Super

14 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Dungeon Bros) is “Duke Spookem,” who “We’ve spent a lot of time setting makes fun of you as you try to defeat him and dodge his balls of steel (spiked balls up a really intelligent procedural that extend from his arms!) I can’t go into too much detail about the others, but system. One of our internal tenets is they are just as fun and wacky…They are a real treat to encounter and it makes the that players will always need a fresh levels well worth playing … but they are really hard! experience...”

Brad Moss Big Demon-ish creatures. Brad Moss We’ve spent a lot of time create an awesome couch experience These are the gods of each of the worlds setting up a really intelligent procedural (you should hear our playtests) while that the bros will travel to and they aren’t system. One of our internal tenets is that keeping all the players on the same screen, happy the bros are there. They are big and players will always need a fresh experience. which is what a lot of old school games exciting with unique mechanics, and really We started off with just building complete had done before because of technical require a team to take them down. pieces that randomly hook up together. restraints. But we also wanted to extend That wasn’t keeping the experience fresh the “couch” experience to online play Levels regenerate in a totally new enough. So we created a method that nests and have just as much fun. We also have layout. How does that change the our procedural generation multiple times some randomly generated levels, which is players’ experience each time they in each framework piece, so 1 piece can a great innovation. We use AI to populate play? generate 1,000 different configurations the levels using a pacing algorithm so they Chad Lee It changes the experience, but instead of one. Now, another major get the right amount of excitement and not the framework, similar to any sport. tenet is that players will always want to strategy to break up the gameplay in an Take basketball, for example, the same apply what they’ve learned. So dungeons interesting way. Because of this, it never rules apply every time you play or watch generate in a framework that focuses on gets repetitive. — 5 guys on a team and you’re just trying the excitement curve, helps players level to get the little ball in the opponent’s their weapons, and reach the big bosses Brad Moss From a design perspective one basket as many times as you can. But with all the tools they need. Of all the great thing that the ‘on-screen’ limitation each experience is totally different and innovations we’ve created in building gives players is team awareness. We are immensely rewarding — which is why Super Dungeon Bros, our procedural focusing on co-op, and when players can sports guys can play or watch basketball system is one of the best. We can’t wait see their bro on the screen is in danger, or football for 20 years and never get for more people to play it and tell us what they naturally want to help them out. It tired of it (and they get sooo worked up if they think. really adds to the , rather than something is on the line.) Similarly, Super feel like a constraint or limitation. Dungeon Bros can be played many times Four player on one screen co-op, without getting repetitive because of how online and on-screen multiplayer? How important is it to work with you’re levelling your weapon, how you’re Is that a nod back to retro friends to progress through the interacting with your team and when you multiplayers? game? encounter enemies, traps and puzzles. Chad Lee Yes and No. We wanted to Chad Lee It is imperative to work with

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 15 FEATURE: Super Dungeon Bros

friends to get through the levels and Chad Lee Not too deliberate, we just stages, so I can’t say too much about them. puzzles. In Super Dungeon Bros, the wanted people to know how Super our co-op is not just thrown in, but the Bros were at raiding Dungeons! It’s a Brad Moss We aren’t working on anything framework of design. You throw your fantastic name that conveys the outrageous that is as Super, Dungeony, or as Brotastic bro across a chasm to retrieve a key, or whimsy nature of the game. It’s epic, but as Super Dungeon Bros! We do have some unlock a feature. Or you stack on top of doesn’t take itself too seriously. really innovative new ideas, some in other each other to reach treasures in tall towers. genres and some in similar types of games. With that said, there is also a competitive Brad Moss There are a lot of tongue- We have some solid prototypes of these element within the Bros…like who is in-cheek moments in Super Dungeon new ideas and will continue to work on going to be the jerk who gets all the Bros. The name really lives up to the them as the team starts to transition off health? Gets the most kills, etc. You’ll get theme of the game, rather than it trying Super Dungeon Bros. « bonuses for that at the end of each level. to copy something else. These bros rock, This way, it keeps the competitive tension their super in every way, and they crawl Super Dungeon Bros is scheduled to launch within the co-op framework. dungeons. in Fall 2015 and you can follow the games progress at www.superdungeonbros.com or Brad Moss If you are playing with your What stage are you at in the game’s www.facebook.com/DungeonBros bros, you really need to work with your journey, when’s it released? bros. So much of the co-op game is Chad Lee We are currently in Alpha and structured around co-op gameplay that will be heading towards BETA very soon if you don’t think about approaching a with a release schedule for fall 2015. dungeon as a team, you will die pretty quickly. What other projects is React working on? Combo attacks, Booby traps, loot Chad Lee We have and plunder. These are a few of my several projects that favourite things. What can you tell we’re prototyping. One us about them? is an innovative MOBA Chad Lee There are LOTS! Since this is and another is a mobile co-op, the combo attacks extend beyond title, but they are your character…for example, we have in their early the “Bro-nado” attack, where all Bros stack on top of one another and spin to create this whirlwind of doom, wiping out enemies with ease. We have certain Bro combos that if you use as a group, causes exponential damage…and you can always throw your Bro into enemies like a projectile weapon. It’s pretty fun! Each character has their own individual combos as well. There is a lot of loot to collect, traps to spring and enemies to destroy, so players will be very busy. Lars

Brad Moss One of the big focuses we’ve had as a team is in the weapons the bros use in a dungeon. Weapons in Super Dungeon Bros are like Champions in . Each weapon is so unique, but has a general role to play in the team configuration. Collect loot, forge new weapons, and find the best items in the game!

The name is similar to another game I have heard of, was this deliberate?

16 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SPRING 2015 ISSUE FIVE 17 FEATURE: War for the Overlord Are you an Underlord with unrivaled dark power and an insatiable desire for bloody conquest?

Than War for the Overlord might ar for the Overworld good then it seems, and it is good. Really just be the perfect game for you is a real-time strategy good. What started in 2009 as a fan-made then. Harry Cole and Lee Smith W developed by sequel to and Dungeon talked to Lee Moon – Community Subterranean Games. Keeper 2, has just taken on a life of its Manager at Subterranean Games. own and spread its demonic wings. Inspired by Dungeon Keeper, players dungeons containing deadly traps to kill So, as we and IND13 are always curious adventuring heroes that enter. So far so about how games such as War for the

18 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Overworld come into being, and as “a long bumpy road, and we’ve certainly we love talking to indie developers, we taken our knocks” Moon says, “but we’ve managed to get in touch with Lee Moon, also revelled in our successes.” the Community Manager at Subterranean Games, who gave us a bit more insight. He then says that in terms of down points they’ve “had our fair share over the two Such as, how it all started. “We’re years and four months we spent in initial extremely fortunate as an indie studio to development; the biggest of which have have a relatively large group of incredibly probably been our troubles with our talented and passionate people from across original plans for mod support.” the world”, Moon says.

“The majority of us met on a Dungeon “In terms of projects there’s some Keeper fansite known as Keeper Klan where we debated and prototyped a huge gaps that have been left by the project like this multiple times but never really got going until Kickstarter. Everyone big publishers, and it’s a great place else are individuals who shared a passion for this type of game who we’ve picked up for aspiring developers to step in to along the way!” fill the gap...” “Currently our team is 15 strong including three , two 3D artists, two Originally their plans were to include animators (one of whom is part time), a extensive support through a piece of VFX artist, two audio designers, two on which they would devlelop community and website and finally our in-house, but this “proved to be overly CEO and Game Designer. That’s not ambitious and nearly cost us the whole including any external contractors who project, thankfully some quick thinking work on other projects as well.” helped us to turn it around though. It’s a long story that we touch on in our first Yep, it really is as it sounds. But we have year retrospective so for additional context all been there right? Where you are such you can read that: https://wftogame. fans of a game you would love to make com/war-for-the-overworld-a-year-in- your own version? Well, most of us don’t, retrospect/” by these guys did. They were/are massive fans of Dungeon Keeper and just thought Other than that, their next biggest down ‘we should make this game’? point were the months leading up until release where they were struggling to keep “That’s right! We’re all huge fans of the themselves afloat. The crunch period they Dungeon Keeper series as well as other went through was “quite tough on all of entries into the genre such as Evil Genius”, us” Moon says, “but again we’ve made Lee explains. it through and while it was tough, we’ve come out with a lot of knowledge because “For us we’d been waiting to see a new of it. You can read more about that over Dungeon Management Game come in our State of the Game retrospective: around that captured the essence of what https://wftogame.com/state-of-the- we considered to be the core of the genre.” game-13-04-2015/” “For years we debated and prototyped the idea of War for the Overworld but it was Optimisim abounds with Subterranean only with the advent of Kickstarter that we Games though, as there’s “always another truly had the opportunity to make it more edge to the coin”, Lee exclaims, “where than a pipe dream!” we’ve had huge highlights, every time someone thanks us for making the game Click for It cannot have been easy though, tackling it’s like a bright light is being shone where video a project as big as this, and it wasn’t. It was we’ve just made someone’s dreams come content

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 19 FEATURE: War for the Overlord

“We were so excited we actually ended up buying all of the copies in our local game shop!” true. For us it’s always been about making be like, “we did it!”? “We spent a lot of time in the last few this game, making War for the Overworld, weeks implementing a huge amount of a brand new Dungeon Management Game “It’s great to see all of your work finally art and sound assets, the difference is and to hear that there are people really come together into a product, seeing the staggering and you feel so much more enjoying it. That’s just fantastic and makes trailer of the game was exhilarating”, Lee involved in the world when you hear every all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced says, “especially after the work we put into little thing happening. In terms of getting worthwhile. In many ways that’s one of the game and indeed the trailer. a feel for a world, you’d truly notice if the the things that’s kept us going.” sound design wasn’t up to scratch!” Even more so is being able to go into a So they were fans of Dungeon Keeper, local game shop and see it there on the Those very sounds actually gave me but what made this game so cool to them? shelves next to other PC Titles.” goosebumps, and bought back amazing Well, as Lee explains, “the thing that most memories of early Dungeon Keeper. resonated with us and indeed many fans Infact, they were “so excited we actually of the Dungoen Keeper games is how ended up buying all of the copies in our “As big fans of this genre we’ve always unique they felt, this is one of those local game shop!” been waiting for the next big game in it. opportunities where you get to be the bad When it was clear that we weren’t going to guy and not only that, but you’re in charge It isn’t just the look of a game that see something akin to what we wanted we of a whole dungeon of unique monsters ensures that it has the right amount of decided to go for it ourselves!” with their own personalities.” atmosphere. When you hear the sound effects of the Imps cutting away the soft “For many of us these kinds of games “It was extremely cool to be on the earth and claiming rooms, you know how were our childhood, it’s what we grew up opposite side, rather than being the goodly important is it to get these aspects into a with and something that has been so sadly hero wandering in to kill the dark lord game that you are affectively remaking. missed in the past decade of video games. and plunder his riches you are in fact that It’s great to see RTS Games, God Games very dark lord looking to stop that from “Sound design is something so very and others making a return, we’re even happening. The whole concept was great important in all games, yet often seeing some new DMGs coming to the and is still rarely seen today.” overlooked” Lee explains. forefront. We live in exciting times!”

It must be immensely satisfying to make “We’re fortunate to have two incredibly This is a pretty new team to the world of a game like this, as a fan of the genre talented Audio designers who have games development. Lee says that they especially, and a fan of games in general. I singlehandedly constructed all the Music could even be called “neophytes to the cannot imagine what that feels like, but I and SFX in the game and even provided a industry, as for many of us this is our very imagine that the first time they watch the huge chunk of VO for plenty of the units first project. Although some of the team trailer and hear the voice over, they must and other characters in the game.” have experience in modding WFTO is

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IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 21

Slain_Ad_IND13.indd 1 19/03/2015 15:27 FEATURE: War for the Overlord

very much their first professional project.’ is to remember your community is your lifeblood.” Although most of our talent comes from other industries or indeed straight At every step of this project they believed from education, they do have people in the power of our community, they know from all different fields joined by one it’s the reason “we’re here so we’ve done common goal, to make the best Dungeon everything we can to keep them informed Management Game we can. and posted weekly news updates for the entire time our project has been running.” And in a way this inexperience has occasionally netted them in a few difficult situations where our plans were bigger “Although WFTO is entirely our own than their team could cope with, “all in all the project itself is a lot bigger than property, assets, code and design would usually be attempted with a team this size”, he explains, “but we’ve risen to we wanted to ensure we kept off the challenge at each step and we’ve found we’re much stronger for it!’ anyone’s toes and the guys at EA have

Crowd sourced, crowd funded, based on been great about that...” pre-loved concepts? It’s something that we have seen more of in the last year. Something which is on the rise. With games in general, but especially games such as these, it is all about the Lee agrees, saying that “it’s definitely paople that play the games, that build a something we’re going to see more of, relationship with the game. in terms of tools available to indie devs to make their dreams come true there’s “Never doubt the power of your never been a better state in the industry. community,” Lee says, “look after them, With the advent of Kickstarter, Steam respect them and they’ll help see you , Patreon and other funding through. For us we’ve always seen it in one methods it’s now easier to acquire funding way, treat your customer as you would like than ever before.” to be treated while understanding all the risks.” “In terms of projects there’s some huge gaps that have been left by the big They knew there was a big demand for this publishers, entire genres have gone with genre of games as they’d “often been on the very little input from them and it’s a great demanding side. Then it was the case of place for aspiring developers to step in to taking the side of the community wherever fill the gap.” we could, for a long time we’d been a part of that very same group of people and we Lee does advise, however, that’s “it’s don’t see any reason why it should be so important that aspiring Devs understand differ” the commitment they’re taking on, we see all too many collapse under the pressure “We’re incredibly pleased that the game and that doesn’t help anyone, it destroys has been something the community could consumer trust and helps to make it more rally around. We believe that it’s through difficult for those who have the talent to be the strength of what we’ve created, on top funded in this manner.” of our continued commitment to engaging with our community that helps to give The key here, Lee suggests, “is to plan them faith in us.” as much as you possibly can, research and develop a great pitch this will draw As for the bigger companies, well, they people in provided your idea is great. If have been surprisingly supportive of the you get crowdfunded then your next step team and War for the Overlord.

22 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM “We’ve been rather fortunate that we’ve hastily double and triple checked before Going from a dozen or so users at a time had some great contacts at EA who have responding with a definitive no.” to thousands was quite the profound helped to keep us in the clear in regards change.” to anything that we should avoid”, Lee “It’s somewhat amusing though that for a says, “Although WFTO is entirely our short while it looked like we were blocking However they have been hard at work own property, assets, code and design we them in a small way, to think that we “patching things up and releasing huge wanted to ensure we kept off anyone’s toes could hold up a giant is a scary thought.” numbers of hotfixes and we’re now hearing and the guys at EA have been great about from players that the game has improved that.” Right now, though, since the release, dramatically for them. People have been they have been working on “fixing up all really happy to see our response, and this “It was in our Kickstarter campaign that the bugs that people are finding, that’s has helped assure players of our dedication we were first contacted, they wanted to currently our top priority. We’ve patched to the game!” check in on us and make sure we weren’t up a huge amount with the 23 hotfix a big company attempting to use any of patches we’ve had since launch but there “Currently we’re sat on 75% Positive their property, they were happy with what are still some issues facing a few users, Steam reviews and we’re hoping we can they saw. We got some advice on anything worst of all are the CTDs and we want to grow that back up as we continue to we should avoid and from there it’s been get those patched as soon as possible.” improve the game and fix issues that almost entirely clear sailing.” players have faced!” They are also working on the various parts Amusingly they did have a small run-in of what will be included in the 1.1 update, It must have been an incredibly stressful where their voice actor Richard Ridings, particularly new hotkeys, multiplayer and project to undertake, though, especially who voices the Mentor and is famous for skirmish lobbies as well as enhancements given the sheer size of it. the part he played in Dungeon Keeper was to both those modes, new maps, tooltips potentially being prevented from voicing and other improvements that people have “It’s been a long road that’s for sure. I for them due to a supposed non-compete been asking for. would say that the game was perhaps a clause we had in his contract (Which little too big and ambitious for our small didn’t exist but was presumed by his How have the fans of the genre, and games team, especially on the resources and agent). in general taken to the game, what has the experience we had and that’s certainly response been to this incredible project? caused some stress at times.” “It was when they were looking at getting lines recorded for Dungeon Keeper “Overall we’ve seen a mixed response”, Lee “In the last few weeks running up to mobile” Lee explains of the strange says honestly, “but gradually growing more release especially we were working 18, situation, “that his agent replied he was positive. Our launch helped us to uncover 24 and even 48 hour shifts to push in as under a non-compete. It wasn’t long until a huge number of bugs which we hadn’t much as we could and straight after release we received a call asking “Did you get previously found, sadly this has negatively we were doing the same. When you get him to sign a non-compete” to which we affected many peoples experiences. to crunch time in game development you

What do they have planned for the future of this game and for the future of the studio?

In the Short term we’re looking to improve the Skirmish In this DLC the players will be taking on the role of and Multiplayer modes as a priority, we had to remove an Underlord they’ve previously met in the original 4-Player maps as there were some issues that caused campaign and exploring some of that Underlord’s them to completely fall over so we’re hoping to get backstory. those back in soon. As for the future of our studio in general we’d like to After that we have a couple of other features on the continue supporting WFTO for as long as we can, this way, we have a completely overhauled has been our baby and it’s a project we’re very proud that will be more fully featured than the prototype we of. It’s been a labour of love from the very start right currently have, this update will be free to everyone. to where we are now. So hopefully we’ll be releasing updates and content for that for some time to come. We also have some tentative plans for Story DLC which will be free to everyone who we consider to be We’ll also be looking at other projects in the future and an “Early-Adopter” that’s everyone who’s purchased while we have some ideas I’m afraid that I can’t talk the game within or before the first month of release. about them just yet.

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 23 FEATURE: War for the Overlord

soon find your free time going out of the appropriate ones if there are applicable ones window and that can be tough.” for you.

“There’s also a surprising amount that you You can also follow them on Twitter @ have to have ready for release, trailers, Wftogame, like us on Facebook (https:// screenshots, press kits, store pages and not www.facebook.com/wftogame) or follow their to mention the game itself means there’s weekly news posts over at wftogame.com for a lot to be done and not a lot of time to news on development, patch notes and other do it in! But we pulled through and we’re information! finally looking forward to going back to normal working hours and perhaps even seeing the mythical beast that is a weekend!”

“Still, I don’t think anyone on the team “This has been our baby and it’s a would change it for the world, what we’ve accomplished here is something project we’re very proud of. It’s been we’re proud of and something that we’re looking forward to continuing to dedicate a labour of love from the very start « ourselves to!” right to where we are now...” You can purchase War for the Overlord directly from Steam (http://store. steampowered.com/app/230190), their site (https://wftogame.com/game/) and from various other outlets such as Humble, the Amazon App store and GMG.

Physical copies are available in several countries throughout the world. Sean from Sold Out will be able to direct you to the

24 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Save the sheep from a horde of wolves by building a fence around them, in this increasingly difficult new puzzler from McPeppergames

www.mcpeppergames.com IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 25 FEATURE: World War Toons

26 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Serious, authentic and and grim? Not this Second World War VR shooter...

World War Toon is a humorous first person shooter and tank combat game set in a whimsical, toon inspired world. Lee Smith talked to Pete Blumel,the Executive Producer at Reload Studios about World War Toons, Virtual Reality, and animation.

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 27 FEATURE: Beyond Flesh and Blood

In a stroke of “However, in regards to VR”, he It is also the first game from Reload serendipity, the cartoon continues, “we really had to evaluate Studios. Reload is at the forefront of “ aesthetic proved to be performance and frame rate vs graphics. the VR revolution, actively engaging an ideal solution.” In a stroke of serendipity, the cartoon and experimenting with virtual reality aesthetic proved to be an ideal solution”. hardware in every facet and leveraging This is what Pete Blumel, the Executive the capabilities of emerging headsets and Producer of Reload games, told me when And bang, there we have it. World War hardware. we discussed their World War Two game Toons... in VR... with amazing graphics with a difference, World War Toons. More and a trailer which you would be happy They ar an independent game specifically I was asking him how, in the to see made into a feature leangth film... development studio formed by the midst of ultra realistic first-person shooter it all proved to be, in the end, the ‘ideal talented developers that led the creation games, did they come up with an idea to solution’. and production of some of the best make it fun? selling video games in the world. They are If you are not already familiar with developing content to entertain an ever To take WWII and create a whimisical, World War Toon, it is, in some ways, a expanding audience for emerging Virtual cartoony, joy to watch and play, virtual playable cartoon where, in typical cartoon Reality and existing game platforms. reality based game. fashion you are more likely to see an anvil drop out of the sky than an air strike. What is really unique about Reload is that “In one sense, WWII was an opportunity Indeed, the game’s debut trailer shows a their background isn’t just in games, but to return to our roots”, he explained, “in soldier skipping around a battlefield and from animated movies, from the media of another, the setting has always been very committing random acts of lunacy like films. distinctive. One glance and players can replacing an enemy’s gun with a chicken. quickly tell what side they’re fighting on, Their team of veteran game developers who’s friendly and who’s the enemy”. Not only that, though, but it is also has united with the feature animation aiming to take advantage of the industry’s most experienced creative artists Which is indeed true. It was a true gift for burgeoning virtual reality technology to bring a unique set of highly stylised film games makers that the uniforms were that it was primarily designed for. Where characters and environments to World so markedly different. It is easy to pick it will enable you too immerse yourseld War Toons. sides, to see the enemy, to choose who in the madcap gameplay which, for all best fits not your moral nature but your it’s cartoon style and fun, is promising From games and films such as Call of sartorial one. amazing fun and addictive gaming. Duty, Ghosts, Frozen, Wreck It Ralph,

28 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 29 FEATURE: World War Toons

World of Warcraft and so, so much more, this is a studio that has a combined “We love video games and we’ve experience of a gazillion games and films and animations, which is what makes created a culture where making World War Toons so special. games is fun again...” Pete describes it as a long term project, as in the team coming together, and almost production. Even so, it is still a challenge the powerful beast that is the PS4. In destiny. With the emerging technology when you don’t have the security and all this time, throughout all those years, being the force that finally made them teams of people behind you when working it was always the one thing we wanted. make the leap and set up Reload. on a major title. We fantasised about entering some Tron like world to play our games and push “This team was several years in the “It’s all relative. Working in indie our mental boundaries and imagination making”, he explains, “as many of us have development brings about different further than we ever could in reality. known each other for quite some time. challenges than producing something like The ascendance of VR was the perfect ,” he says, “You learn to pivot Now this is starting to become reality. catalyst for us all to finally come together quickly and eat stress for breakfast. In that The dream is starting to be realised and, and do something fun and different.” regard, we’ve surmounted lots of obstacles thankfully, we are still yound enough to and garnered tremendous insights in the be able to enjoy it. A little podgier maybe, Of course setting up a studio is no easy process of going independent.” with more responsibilities, and endless thing to do, and especially when your ‘day bills to pay, but also enough money to jobs’ are so enriching and rewarding. but It is truly with the emergence of VR want to immerse ourselves in a different sometimes you have to cross that rubicon technology that is driving both Reload landscape. And, as mentioned in the in your career. That time when, no matter Studios in general, and their making of beginning of the article, World War Toons how good things may be, it is that time to World War Toons. With the Rift, is the ‘ideal solution’. be yourself almost. Project Mopheus, and various other VR devices being developed and readied for “We all saw the potential,” Pete says, But it is a big step to take, something our eager use, we really are living in lucky “and believe there are great opportunities which Pete completely agress with. and exciting times. Games wise that is, in VR, especially for game developers”, “Indeed,” he says, “but there comes a point reality wise the world is very different highlighting what the rest of us saw, but when you want to take back the reigns of which probably explains why so many that most of us didn’t know what to do your career and break away from the giant, of want to escape from the reality of about it. It is an ever-evolving technology risk averse corporate structure. We love collapsed economies, endless atrocities in though, even before it has really been video games and we’ve created a culture the name of [insert religion/politic here] unleashed on the eager world. where making games is fun again.” and Taylor Swift songs. “There are innovations happening As mentioned before, though, these are That’s the thing about VR. It has long seemingly every day in VR. We’ve no newbies to the industry. Pete himself been dreamt about, especially by my established wonderful relationships has over 19 years of experience in feature generation (80s kids), who saw the gaming throughout the industry to find ways film, animation and AAA interactive world evolve from the humble Atari to to push the boundaries of presence and

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www.VerdunGame.comIND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 31 FEATURE: World War Toons

immersion not just for World War Toons “Working in indie development brings but for our other future projects in the space.” about different challenges than

With so many different formats though, producing something like Call of Duty. with so many companies throwing their vitual hat into the ring, does that You learn to pivot quickly and eat stress create another set of challenges? Oculus/ Facebook, , Samsung, Microsoft, even for breakfast...” HTC… Pete doesn’t see this as creating a development nightmare, though, but as a good thing. A sign that people are taking ensuring that they cover all bases too, and the technology seriously enough to invest are not just relying on people upgrading properly in it. to the new gadgets as soon as they are shipped. All these things are expensive you “I think it’s great to have a variety of see. So despite making World War Toons channels to distribute VR content and the for Virtual Reality, it will also support fact that such big players are jumping in, standard play too. clearly seeing the potential of the platform, is simply invigorating.” “VR performance, gameplay, design and controls are all things we’ve prioritized And the fact that so many people and since day one,” Pete explained. companies are developing in it, means that VR is now about to have its moment. “But as an indie developer, we feel our first However, it doesn’t matter how great the title should leverage as many platforms as technology is, if the games are not good possible.” « enough for us to want to play. Just a small point, but one that is pretty crucial I Reload is planning on a 2015 release date for think. With World War Toons, though, World War Toon. You can find out more by Click for I think we are in safe hands. They are also visiting: wwt.reload-studios.com video content

32 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM Review Section

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT REVIEWED

ALSO REVIEWED

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED

There’s no escaping from the fact that The Witcher 3 is this Stranded naked, freezingIND13.COM and starving SUMMER on the 2015 shores ISSUE of SIX a 33 year’s big RPG, having won over 200 awards. mysterious island called ARK. REVIEW: Batman: Arkham Knight Batman: Arkham Knight... the most disturbing Batman story ever told

Review by Lexuzze Tablante the GTX 970 and R9 290X. These follow these configurations as what concerns, however, are being worked Rocksteady suggested. Following The highly anticipated final on by Rocksteady while Warner Bros. these configurations, I was able to installment of Rocksteady suspended the game’s sale through play the game smoothly with less and Warner Bros. Batman Steam and physical copy shipments stuttering on 30 frames per second. Arkham franchise came in with until they fix the issue. negative feedbacks from the PC Batman Arkham Knight is the third community as the game itself I was able to get the game since I and final installment of Rocksteady’s had a lot of technical issues. pre-ordered a physical copy from Batman Arkham series which our local store Datablitz because concludes the story of the Dark The PC port was developed by an Warner Bros. PR didn’t provide us Knight. The game is still an open- outsourced development team any press copies for us to review world action adventure title. The named Studios. There Batman Arkham Knight on PC. I will narrative is set in Gotham City to were a lot of frame rate drops when make sure that this PC review and stop the not-so-scary psychopath driving the Batmobile or gliding, no score will be updated as soon as they Scarecrow from spreading a SLI and Crossfire profile support, and fix the game. For some PC gamers highly concentrated fear toxin textures not rendering fast enough who already bought the game and while introducing a new character even on high-end videocards like experienced the performance issues, joining the bandwagon of villains

34 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO who wants to stop Batman, the “Combat feels more faster than what Arkham Knight. The darker twist of the game’s story is simply we’ve seen in Arkham City. Adding the fantastic. If you have watched the famous Christopher Nolan’s The “dual-play” gameplay, it lets the player Dark Knight Rising movie, you will know that Batman Arkham Knight’s switch from one character to another ” dark-themed narrative is great. It makes the players want to re-play showcase some old favorite Wayne gun, 60mm Canon, Armor, and the the whole Batman Arkham series, Industry technologies present from magnificent Afterburner. However, except Arkham Origins, and feel the its predecessors like the Explosive the visual design of the Batmobile emotional impact of Batman Arkham Gel, Remote Controlled Batarangs, have references from Christopher Knight’s story. Remote Hacking Device, Batclaw, Nolan’s Batman Begins (the Tumbler) and more. Along with these classic for being a tank-ish vehicle and the Batman Arkham Knight retains the gadgets are 2 new devices: the canon as what we’ve seen in the main gameplay element and gadgets Voice Synthesizer where players can upcoming Batman v Superman: from its predecessors. There are imitate certain villains to order them Dawn of Justice movie. The some added elements in the game to open gates or investigate certain Batmobile did live up to the hype of like the “Fear Takedown” which areas for you to take them out, and all Batman fans who were waiting for players can do the “Takedown” move most importantly the Batmobile this and it wasn’t a disappointment. to a certain amount of enemy AI in a Remote that controls the highly slow-motion effect, giving the last anticipated Batmobile. With all the impressive elements blow that accomplished feeling to that were shown in its gameplay, players. The Batmobile is the main attraction Batman Arkham Knight’s overall of the newest feature in Batman graphic design is spectacular. Even Combat feels more faster than what Arkham Knight. It allows players if the game can’t run on Normal we’ve seen in Arkham City. Adding to roam around Gotham City like for now because of the game’s the “dual-play” gameplay, it lets the never before in any Batman Arkham optimization issues, running it on player switch from one character title. The Batmobile transforms to Low settings with Anti-Aliasing to another and do combined a tank-like destroyer to take out turned on in 1080p resolution takedowns with Batman’s buddies unmanned remote controlled tanks, already makes the PC version on par like Catwoman, Tim Drake, and and shoot enemy AI with rubber with the console versions. Nightwing in certain side quests. bullets to instantly taking them However, Dual-Play is a weak down, not killing them. The controls Gotham City looks astonishing, gameplay element that should have of the Batmobile are pretty smooth, smokes, the splash and explosion been better if it was utilized more in especially drifting. effects from the tanks, the the game’s main story. Batmobile, rain effects, villain’s The tank-like mobile of the Dark visual designs, and as well as Now, gadgets, gadgets, and Knight is not overpowered, there Batman looks great on Low settings. gadgets… Batman Arkham Knight still are options to upgrade the Vulcan It’s pretty much stable on Low

SIRUSGAMING.INFO SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 35 REVIEW: Batman: Arkham Knight

configuration as long as you meet experience that I had with the a bad move from Rocksteady and the minimum specs and experience game. I am comfortable playing the Warner. They were too focus enough minor to no stuttering in gameplay game at 30FPS and I know most of of having the game released on par experience. Smooth as butter. you readers and PC gamers don’t with the console versions. understand why we should play at The pretty graphical effects of 30FPS when our beast computers Now, the game is currently Batman Arkham Knight also came can run it more than 30FPS and even unavailable on Steam and physical with an impressive voice-acting more than 60FPS. copies are currently suspended until from Kevin Conroy as Batman and the game is fixed. the most precious voiceover of John For me, it’s basically on pure Noble as Scarecrow. preferences of the players. There was already a minor patch that fixed some bugs and added Even if Scarecrow’s plans and If you guys wants to play it on 60FPS the rain effects on the PC version, looks were not that scary or or higher, then that’s your choice. I Rocksteady already posted in their even intimidating to players and wouldn’t force you to play it or even forums that they’re now focusing on Batman, Noble gives out that suggest it if you’re not comfortable the game’s major patch update and horror atmosphere for being Dr. playing a game on 30FPS. that’s already coming. Crane’s voice that will overlook the character’s weaknesses. And I wouldn’t want to be too Overall, Batman Arkham Knight biased in this review because the is still a great game despite its The game’s soundtrack was not that game’s first release was horrible. optimization issues. impacting and emotional at some I’m reviewing the game based on point in the game than what Arkham my experience of the game as a I already used Rocksteady’s Origins and Arkham City have. critic, and for me it was a great configuration advice for graphics and Composed by David Buckley and Batman experience. The graphical it already gave me a great experience Nick Aundrel, they’ve mixed some improvement can wait until they in the gameplay. tracks from Arkham City and Arkham patch the game. Asylum to make it darker which I The story was spectacular, graphics thought that it didn’t have that I know the game has issues with were great even on Low how much “emotional” feel than what I’ve heard performance and stability, in more if we can set it on High after from Christopher Drake’s tracks in short poor optimization overall. Rocksteady fixes the game, and the Arkham Origins. It’s worse than what had overall experience was fantastic. with Assassin’s Creed and Batman Arkham Knight is a game Just on a side note, I know this is a this is because the development where players can now experience PC port and this should not be taken of the game was passed to what a Batman game should be and lightly. What I wrote in my previous an inexperienced outsourced the epic conclusion of the Batman paragraph is the mere review and development company and it was Arkham franchise. «

GRAPHICS (WILL BE UPDATED) 75% Despite having poor optimization, the temporary suggested configuration from Rocksteady made my gameplay experience a lot better. Batman SOUNDS 80% Arkham Knight is one of the best Batman game there is and brought us the epic conclusion of the Dark Knight himself. GAMEPLAY (WILL BE UPDATED) 80%

REPLAY VALUE/DLC 95% % FIRST RELEASE SCORE 35% 83 overall score

36 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO Voted one of the top 5 Indie games at Play Expo 2014 - Gamertime.co.uk HARD-HITTING BEAT-EM-UP ACTION!

‘MakinGames has got that beat- - BONE-CRUSHING MOVES - 'em-up feel just right, complete - DEADLY WEAPONS - with bone-shuddering weapon - INSANE BOSSES - attacks and weighty divekicks.’ - Pocketgamer.co.uk DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

COMING SOON to CONSOLE, PC, MAC, AND MOBILE REVIEW: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt The years big RPG reviewed indepth Review by Davrel closest real-world approximation ‘downgrade’ in comparison with I can give would be Scotland, if early gameplay videos. With a There’s no escaping from the Scotland were much flatter and few exceptions (red bricks, for fact that The Witcher 3: Wild closer to sea-level; the terrain is example), the textures are sharp; Hunt is this year’s big RPG, made up of rugged heathland, character and object models and having won over 200 awards, lakes, bogs, etc. And yes, plenty of animations are well-realised and this mammoth game casts you fantasy tropes are dotted around and let’s not forget the hair. in the role of Geralt of Rivia, a the landscape like mage towers, Witcher, and sets you off on a ancient caves and forts, but If you’re rocking a relatively beefy continent-spanning adventure everything has a sense of solidity – card, you can even use that’ll see you facing down it looks like somewhere that could their proprietary hair rendering man and beast alike. actually exist. to cast Geralt in his own Herbal Essences ad… Only with For the uninitiated, a Witcher is There are battlefields where more blood and death. a kind of bounty hunter, but one corpses lay rotting, villages and that deals specifically in the killing cities where peasants eke out A further staggering hair-related of unnatural creatures, demonic a living, forests – actual damn innovation is that Geralt’s beard beings, ghosts and the like. You forests (not just impassable areas grows in real time! Amazing! Jokes play as Geralt, arguably the most of trees added for effect) – filled aside, it really is a very pretty game famous of Witchers, as you search with bandits and other nasties, to look at, and well optimised too. the continent for “the child of granite boulders peeking out from In a time when we seem to be prophecy, an ashen-haired girl, a dense heather, and wild dogs heading into a dark era where PC living and highly volatile weapon roaming in packs. games are released with chronic everyone wants to control.” bugs, The Witcher 3 is a shining The rain pours, the wind blows, example of how to launch a game The world you explore in Witcher the sun rises and sets. Solid world- properly. 3 is without doubt one of the building is top of my wishlist most absorbing, atmospheric, when it comes to RPGs and this As well as the main storyline, and despite the monsters, game does it expertly. And it the world is littered with long realistic game worlds I’ve looks beautiful on PC too, despite branching side-quests requiring encountered. Take Velen, one of the uproar over the graphical you to use your special Witcher the several distinct main regions you travel to, as an example: it’s a bleak, miserable, swampy place, struggling to adapt to the “I got into a bar fight with some of outcome of a recent invasion – it delivers all this atmosphere a local ruler’s guards. Ultimately, I without becoming a stereotype ‘gloomy swamp’ location. decided to murder them because

In terms of what it looks like, the they were rude...”

38 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO abilities, talk to locals and cross And when these characters speak, down almost to a pause as you the world on foot, horseback or it’s a joy. Bethesda take note: this enter the quick-select menu – but even by boat. is now you do voice acting. The I quite often find myself thinking cast has a range of interesting, I chose a certain Sign, only for The side-quests are miniature world-appropriate accents and (in nothing to happen. story-arcs unto themselves, with my experience so far) when there actual impact on the game world. is a repetition of an NPC voice I think this is because rather than They’re overwhelmingly bleak actor, it’s barely noticeable. just highlighting the Sign required, and usually result in at least one you have to highlight and then unexpected death or maiming, This isn’t Skyrim. The rest of the click it. You can avoid this process but this fits well with the whole sound too is generally first rate, altogether by using the mouse atmosphere of a war ravaged land. with wind and rain, steel against wheel, so this is probably more a steel, and general ambient sound case of me getting used to using In addition, these quests far from all adding to the immersion and the controls more effectively than the mmo-esque tedious fetch sense of being in another world. a major flaw. quests that marred the experience of : Inquisition. And My only real grumble about this One minor, additional complaint best of all, your choices (both game is the combat, and I fully I have is that weapons and items in action and speech) have a admit that this probably wouldn’t seem to wear out very quickly, meaningful impact on how other have come up if I was better at meaning regular boring trips to a characters react to you and how playing games. Fighting monsters blacksmith. events pan out. Case in point: I and people can be at times be a got into a bar fight with some of little tricky, not from the difficultly That being said, despite its a local ruler’s guards. Ultimately, I level so much, but because flaws the combat is far superior decided to murder them because Geralt’s fighting style is highly to the original Witcher game they were rude, later on I earn the acrobatic – if you fail to lock on to and Witcher 2. Overall the respect of their leader and the a particular target, you can find game’s difficulty level is slanted fear of his other guards for my yourself murdering the scenery somewhat towards the harder behaviour – NPCS would mutter around you and not the guys about side, it’s not exactly Dark , about their fallen colleagues as I to stab you in the spine. but it can take a little while to get passed. used to, especially if you’re a bit I also find switching between inept like me. Even when your choices Signs (Geralt’s semi-magical don’t impact the overall story abilities) in combat can be a little This is by no means a bad thing, in dramatically, it’s satisfying to fiddly; it works much the same fact, it’s a good thing, but when see then referenced by other way as the weapon wheel system looking at the difficulty settings, characters. in GTAV – with the action slowing think of them as one level above

SIRUSGAMING.INFO SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 39 REVIEW: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

the usual, so ‘Easy’ would equate to to just steamroll through it. Despite ‘Normal’ in most other games, etc. my minor complaints regarding the combat and the (massively inflated) It’s also very hard to play the game controversy over the graphical properly without making full use of downgrade, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Geralt’s abilities, you’ll need to become is a staggeringly accomplished game. proficient in alchemy, explosives and general crafting; this is a game that The developers, CD Projeckt RED really does reward character mastery should be proud of what they’ve – knowing which potions to brew, created. I just hope that others are what items to use, etc. paying attention. Click for Again, not a complaint, but unless Buy the damn game already. « video you’re playing on easy, don’t expect content

GRAPHICS 93% The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a staggeringly accomplished game. The developers, CD Projeckt RED should be proud of what they’ve created. I just hope that others are SOUNDS 93% paying attention.

GAMEPLAY 92% % 90% 92 overall score

40 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO disrupts.tv the video station for the startup scene. beta now live

SIRUSGAMING.INFO SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 41

2 REVIEW: Ark: Survival Evolved review

42 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO Stranded naked, freezing and starving on the shores of a mysterious island called ARK

SIRUSGAMING.INFO SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 43 REVIEW: Ark: Survival Evolved review

Review by Lexuzze Tablante despite the optimisation issues, I’m co-operatively with others and already having a blast – I’ve seen joining a ‘Tribe’ is going to be the only I stood upon a small grassy hill dinosaurs, met other people, learned way you’ll ever do that though. overlooking an azure sea, the tail some important things about of some horrifying sea creature berries, killed other people – what Any player can form a tribe of their arcs back into the water; more could you want from a game? own and invite friends to play co- pterosaurs soar in flight above. It’s only then that I find out that you operatively, gaining bonus XP for Turning to my right, I catch sight press Z to defecate. Amazing! I turn performing actions like crafting and of a diplodocus and marvel as it to the corpse of my fallen enemy foraging near other tribe members. crashes through a forest, leaving and, in time-honoured gaming I’ve yet to join a tribe, but only trees smashed in it its wake. tradition, proceed to enthusiastically because every interaction I’ve had Suddenly there is a large, naked commit a war crime. with other players has ended in man standing in front of me. murder. Still, other people seem ‘Hello?’ I type tentatively. ‘Hi’ he So, Ark: Survival Evolved is a game to manage it and they’re off riding replies before punching me in the that sees you dropped onto tropical Tyrannosaurs around – must be face. Welcome to ARK: Survival island littered with dinosaurs and something about my face… Evolved. bizarre alien artefacts and leaves you to fend for yourself. Starting In my time playing, I haven’t got I flee. Not really knowing what to do, from nothing but your bare hands, much past the ‘managing to just I just turn and run. But after running you must forge the tools of survival; about survive’ stage where you’re in circles for a few minutes I realise gather rocks, wood, berries, leaves too weak to kill anything more I can’t shake my pursuer and turn to and plants to make a fire, basic tools, serious than a Dodo (and even that’s fight him. I land a couple of blows a primitive shelter and simple meals. a challenge), you’re constantly and he backs away, grabs some As you again experience and level scavenging for berries to eat and berries from a bush, and eats them. up from foraging (often amounting other players are a serious menace. ‘Clever’, I think, he wants to regen to literally punching the wood right some health… He then drops down out of trees) and exploring, you’ll I built a house made out of straw dead. Great! get the chance to boost your stats and (in a severe breach of health and and unlock new ‘Engrams’, which act safety laws) put a fire in it, and spent I walk over to his body, wondering as blueprints for more complicated my time scavenging for food and not what the hell is going on. Turns out craftable items. venturing too far from safety, slowly he’s not dead, just unconscious and levelling up in the hopes of one day the berries he ate are ‘Narcoberries‘. To put things into perspective, being able to ride a T-Rex. I’m laughing out loud at this point, the first tool you’ll make is a stone and in my good humour I decide to pickaxe, but eventually you could be The day and night cycle adds some be merciful and grant him a swift wielding an RPG, and sending rockets variation to this routine. When night death by… err… repeatedly punching into the faces of nearby dinosaurs/ falls, you’re forced to stock up on his head. other players. Although, considering torches, find warmth and shelter and how much time it takes to gather keep an eye out for lurking predators Five minutes into the game and, basic resources, it looks like playing – not really being able to see where

44 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO IND13.COM MARCH 2015 ISSUE FIVE 45 REVIEW: Ark: Survival Evolved review

you’re going definitely adds to the already happened. “I built a house feeling of vulnerability and it can be especially daunting when you realise Aside from these issues, the game made out of that you have no shelter, no food, does generally look gorgeous, with a and you’re freezing to death. There colour palette that appears similar to straw and (in a are perks for night time exploration, or the original Far Cry – bright however. leafy greens, sandy beaches, blue severe breach of waters, etc. Beams of light mark points on the health and safety map where loot-crates are dropped. The dinos themselves all look These are usually filled with tools realistic enough if they stand still, laws) put a fire and supplies and are often worth but some of their animations need a a night time trek. Without them, it bit of work. Pterosaurs fly in sort of THE LATEST in it...” would be very tempting just to sit m-shaped patterns, and rarely higher inside and wait for daybreak. than about 20ft. As you might expect with an The really big dinosaurs, whilst GAMING NEWS, Early Access title, there are some impressive, lose some of their optimisation issues. I’m running a majesty and begin to look downright fairly high-end machine, capable of derpy when they move, with legs smoothly running the Witcher 3 on not quite reacting properly to the ultra, but in ARK:SE, I get around 20- slope of the terrain under them and VIEWS & REVIEWS 30 fps. Apparently this is a well- tails and necks passing harmlessly known issue and the developers do through tree trunks as the big beasts seem to be pumping out updates and pirouette on the spot. patches every other day or so – it’s already running better than when I Still, this game is very much in Early started playing. Access and (judging by the rate of patches) I’m confident that most, Messing about with some of the if not all, of these issues will be settings also improved, but the addressed eventually. performance is still sub-par and leads to my eyes feeling grainy after My only other gripe with the game so an hour or so of game time. far is that the official servers appear to be perpetually full, meaning The low fps can also cause problems you’re left with a choice between Click for in melee combat – frantically trying waiting or playing by yourself. Which, video to land a punch of a dinosaur’s face considering the brutality of other content is only made harder when it feels like players, probably isn’t entirely a bad you’re watching something that’s thing… «

GRAPHICS 80% Overall, Ark: Survival Evolved has great potential. It’s a gorgeous-looking game with a great (if not entirely original) SOUNDS 70% The Sirus Gaming team are a group of passionate concept. If you have a high-end video-game journalists and gamers from the Philippines, machine, then it’s probably worth getting now, but if dedicated to bringing you the latest news, reviews, GAMEPLAY 75% you’re playing on a potato then previews, and more in the video-game industry. Their team you might want to wait until a % few more optimisation patches of writers are selected for their knowledge on the REPLAY VALUE 75% 75 come out before getting out video-game industry, quality articles, and reviews. overall score your wallet. sirusgaming.info 46 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX SIRUSGAMING.INFO THE LATEST GAMING NEWS, VIEWS & REVIEWS

The Sirus Gaming team are a group of passionate video-game journalists and gamers from the Philippines, dedicated to bringing you the latest news, reviews, previews, and more in the video-game industry. Their team of writers are selected for their knowledge on the video-game industry, quality articles, and reviews.

sirusgaming.info SIRUSGAMING.INFO SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 47 REGIONAL REPORT: Philippines

“Live simply. Love generously. Speak truthfully. Breathe deeply. Do your best. Leave everything else to the powers above you...”

Lex from Sirus Gaming, IND13s game’s situation is. And Allyza is one of just to play Special Force; it’s an online partners caught up with allyza those shoutcasters. FPS game and it’s free to play. So I Taylor, Mineski’s Events Team started playing it with my friends that Commentator/Shoutcaster Hi Allyza, thanks for accepting I already knew from that area as well to know if there’s more to our interview request. Can you after a while of playing it casually, there “gaming” than what she has tell me more about your general is this game that my friends introduced now as a shoutcaster. gaming experience aside from me to: “Crossfire“. ? ertain video games are treated Hahaha! No problem! I started playing Crossfire is almost the same as Special as sports by the gaming games basically my entire life. I could Force and by that time the game was Ccommunity. Big events on already talk and play. Haha. I just go under Gameclub. So my friends and the rise where Major League Gaming by my cousin’s house then we play on I switched to Crossfire, since most of (MLG), Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), the first Playstation since thats what them already migrated to that game,so I DreamHack, and 2’s The was popular at the time. Then we joined them. Then I met a lot of friends International are having more views have a computer shop in Bicol and, of with Crossfire, from school there were than a regular sports would have. course, I stayed there because it was our people who played it so they decided business. My cousins are always there, to ask me if I want to join and I always These events feature competitive They were the one who taught me how do. That time my mom bought a titles like StarCraft, , League to play Counter Strike and then after system unit since she complained that I of Legends, Call of Duty, Counter- bloomed my love for FPSs. always leave the house to play hahaha. Strike, and other games that gives I have alot of friends in the Crossfire “competition” as the main attraction. When I was with my mom already and community by that time and up to the With events like MLG, there will always we transferred to a house in Cainta point I joined the group “Vanguard”. be a shoutcaster to commentate on because of my studies, we didn’t have These people introduced me to the the matches; they give you knowledge any PlayStation console or some sort. competitive scene on FPSs. (Shout out about the game and details on what the So, I would go to these computer shops to Vanguard and Eric Marquez!). Haha,

48 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 49 REGIONAL REPORT: Philippines

sorry would slip that in since they were Auto: Vice City for me and my mom really the one who introduced me to this actually helped me finished missions. She scene. But of course shoutout to my mom was really cool hahaha. I remember her cause she was really supportive all the way. finishing a mission which I can’t and she Super casual gaming by that time. stayed up to 3am just to get it done.

Anyway, I started joining mini Nostalgia with . It tournaments with my friends from was an awesome game. I’m actually vanguard, just for the sake of playing amazed that you were able to play that time since it was more fun and it certain titles in PS2, especially GTA. feels REALLY GOOD. The adrenalin. Was your mom a gamer too? its different. Its sort of addicting but not I think she was actually kinda of a gamer. totally. It’s like playing against players Haha. She would really stay up all night who would like to win as well. So both of just to finish missions and tasks. I know our teams want to win which makes it a her favorite game was Red Alert! By the good fight and its really fun, especially the time we got a system unit we were arguing bonding with your team during practices. whose going to play first cause she wants You learn more about the game and you to play too. Of course i had classes the know your team mates more. next day so she would let my play first and she would stay all night to play her game By 2012, Gameclub made a tournament hahaha. called “Women’s League”, this time its an all girls competition which makes it Not a lot of parents supports their really interesting for me, since I play with kids in gaming. You have a great guys and mostly all the people ive met mom. So, moving on, have you in Crossfire are guys. In the Vanguard played first person shooter games group, there were girl gamers. So we made on consoles? We know FPS games a team composed of five players and we are preferred on PCs, but for you, were all girls so we can compete for the what do you think about FPS games Women’s League. We came 4th place for on consoles? And what FPS games that tournament and after that so started have you played on consoles? to lie low on the competitive scene since I I didn’t get to play with my PS2 for a long joined Mineski. time because we had a financial problem and offered my mom that we sell my PS2 Technically, you’ve been exposed to for us to have money. So I only played FPS first person shooter games when in PCs ever since. you guys moved to Cainta. We never really see a lot of girl gamers who To be honest though when I try playing actually play competitive shooters. fps in a console it’s kind of tough for me. So, basing on what you said, you Since I don’t find it precise when aiming played on a console. What was your especially using a controller. But i have first game on PS? Was it PSone or tried playing some on a ps3 PS2? How was your playthrough since my friends and I sometimes had experience with your first video LAN parties and he actually had a PS3. game? But most of us brought our laptops and PS1! We didn’t own any PS1 by that time played there. and I will just go by my cousin’s place for us to play Crash Bandicoot. I really can’t I agree, it’s hard to get used to the remember a lot from that time since i was aiming mechanisms without really really young. But I owned a PS2 because strafing in consoles. Currently, we my mom gave it as a gift for my birthday. heard that you have a team with The first game she even bought me for Strategic Technologies? What game it was Bratz lol. But I was super boyish are you playing on? Do you play and I really wanted to play something competitively til now? with action so she bought Grand Theft Kinda complicated though because I

50 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM “Gaming and esports will forever have a place in my heart. I grew up playing, I will die playing...”

can’t really go on full time playing as a outcome or the result of what you are competitive player because I am currently doing is a fulfillment for me. I love what I an FPS shoutcaster for Mineski and am doing and eSports is my passion a Mineski talent, which means I host eSports events and related events to It’s really fun in being part of the gaming. Aside from not having a lot of esports scene. You get to meet a lot of time to play anymore, sometimes it’s a people, of different race and of different conflict especially if the tournament is personalities. You get to know how to talk hosted by Mineski. I couldn’t play, but with these people, how to be with them I am actually a 6th man of Strategic and everything that follows. It’s a really Fuma. It’s an all-girls team under strategic huge advantage for me; experience is the gaming. I stand as a manager/6th man best teacher and experiencing this things for the team. Hehe. There are a lot of while I am this young is a huge part of my issues with it since I am also studying character. and working at the same time, I feel like i couldn’t do a lot for the team especially The passion that we have as gamers being an active member. So I decided is the only thing that keeps our to just manage teams under Strategic community strong. Stronger than technologies. any other mediums in this world. For being a part of the gaming Having a lot of things to do industry, what can you do to like being employed, studies, contribute as being part of the shoutcaster, that’s honestly of community aside from eSports? work. You don’t feel stressed Before even being a shoutcaster and a host out sometimes? Do you ever plan for gaming events. I was actually a forum doing this in the long run? I mean, moderator of Crossfire PH. I understand sometimes we grow up and do other and help these players having a hard time things, but for you? Will you still or having problems within the game and continue your part in the gaming I help them establish and connect with industry? the GMs about how they feel or what can I am in love with eSports and I am be the possible solutions or even making devoted to eSports and gaming. Maybe in the game a better one. The greatest part time I would be doing other things, but of being a player of the game before gaming and esports will forever have a being one of its personalities is that you place in my heart. I grew up playing, I will experience it first-hand. From problems to die playing. I want to be someone who solutions you were there. was a part of making this industry grow. Philippines doesn’t accept eSports that Even with events though, before I was much but I believe that one day eSports just attending events for fun, and I was so will become something that is worth happy getting these ballers and freebies. working hard for that’s why as of now I To be honest I didn’t even imagine that have no doubt into switching professions one day I will be the one in the stage and or some sort. hosting these sorts of events knowing that I was just an attendee before. I am actually I feel stressed but after a while and secretly happy when I host events and get completing all the work. Seeing the freebies. You know, maybe for other hosts

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 51 REGIONAL REPORT: Philippines

“I always remember trying to fit in to a crowd of guys and trying to raise my hand for the host to pick me...”

it’s nothing to them just normal things good, you will learn a lot from experiences. is a lot of fun. Yes it is, but never ever that they give away to the people. But the forget your priorities. Your studies or work feeling i get when I am the one handling That’s the perks being in the is important. But what is more important these things is genuine happiness. Hahaha industry, right? Free ballers and is the time for your family, please just I’m such a kid. tshirts and even more! Before I was please love your family. Time flies, it’s just a hardcore gamer who didn’t up to you to be a navigator. Maybe the Because I always remember trying to fit really mind anything at all for the death of my mom made me this person, in to a crowd of guys trying to get these community, but now I was able which I would cherish every second and ballers and trying to raise my hand for to form a team to contribute for every minute being with someone I love. the host to pick me. Hahah it’s just funny the gaming community by giving anyways, love your family more than that I didn’t actually expect that the next unbiased reviews and news within anything. And of course pursue your events that I will be going to, I won’t the industry. Great thing about dreams, do what makes you happy as long even need to jump and raise my hand you Allyza is that you actually also as you’re not stepping on someone and do anymore because I am the one picking have passion in gaming and that is not exchange short term happiness. who the winner is. Kind of amazing right? certainly great. Sometimes you just don’t know where I dont really have a message specifically for fate would take you. Whatever makes you Now, do you have anything to say girl gamers, because whatever you are, a happy go for it. When opportunity comes, for your fans, for the community, guy, girl, gay or whatever your sexuality is. grab it because you wouldn’t know what and for the girl gamers out there? A gamer is a gamer. For all the gamers out would be its effect on your life. Bad or I would like to tell you guys that Gaming there who is really passionate for esports. «

52 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 53 FEATURE: The Kraken Sleepeth The Kraken Sleepeth The Kraken Sleepeth is the new game from Team Pesky, the describe your game? commissioned a professional actor Peet studion set up by Andy Gibson. The Kraken Sleepeth is a twin-stick Torjussen for the voice over. IND13 caught up with him to talk gothic undersea arcade adventure. It’s an about games and Victorian Sci-Fi. experiment in narrative and arcade action The incredibly talented Ben McCullough - sort Asteroids in a Jules Verne/Lovecraft wrote and recorded an original soundtrack underwater world. The game challenges which is amazing. The music reacts to Could you introduce yourself, tell us the player to explore sites around several your progress in the levels, something about the team and your studio? locations around the world and has a lot which really adds a rich, dynamic feel. Hi, I’m Andy Gibson and after 13 years of of subtle and hidden secrets to uncover. There are several easter-egg secrets across professional game development I took the the game so players can work out back- plunge to set up Team Pesky in 2012. The The core mechanic of moving and stories if that interests them. idea was to focus on smaller, polished titles shooting are very easy to pick up but the and that lead to the release of Little Acorns game offers upgrades so the player can There’s certainly a mix of eras used (iOS, WinPhone, Vita, Indie & invest more in the game as they progress. in gaming, why did you choose A platformer with a 3DS) and The Kraken Sleepeth (Windows Victorian? App Store). What is the back story to the game? The archetypal arrogant, English Victorian What was the inspiration behind explorer was a simple choice for me. unique mechanic What’s your game making history? the game? B Movies? Someone who believed they were “on the My first gig was at Revolution as a junior The Kraken Sleepeth was inspired by the edge of knowing all there was to know”, You can dive into the ground. Momentum artist and I worked my way up through classic family movies like ‘20,000 Leagues as he says in the game. Someone who lead to art director at studios around the under the Sea’ and ‘Warlords of Atlantis’. would be challenged by what he gradually is conserved but gravity is reversed, letting UK. I also did 2 years as Producer so have I’m also a huge H P Lovecraft fan so a uncovered. This means the final choice you fling yourself high into the air or deep “Overall a pretty rounded experience across projects few tentacles and mythos references made confronting the player at the ‘end’ of the USD $9.99 winner of and platforms. it into the game. I wanted the game to game actually matters, they’ve travelled EUR €7.99 beneath the surface. The goal is always feel like a real B-movie so focussed on with the Professor and shared Ludum Dare Working on titles like Tomb Raider opens colour schemes, post- his adventure. CAD $11.49 straightforward - collect the three orbs in 29.” April, a few doors but I’ve really dropped out of effects like grain GBP £6.49 working for other people to develop my and noise, the level and jump into the wormhole - but 2014 own ideas now. I consider myself pretty etc. and spikes, endless drops and impossible heights lucky to be able to do what I do. make this more and more difficult. In your own words, how would you PC / Mac / Steam

Click for video content

54 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM www.daniellinssen.net A platformer with a unique mechanic You can dive into the ground. Momentum is conserved but gravity is reversed, letting you fling yourself high into the air or deep “Overall USD $9.99 winner of beneath the surface. The goal is always EUR €7.99 Ludum Dare CAD $11.49 straightforward - collect the three orbs in 29.” April, GBP £6.49 the level and jump into the wormhole - but 2014 spikes, endless drops and impossible heights make this more and more difficult.

PC / Mac / Linux Steam

www.daniellinssen.netIND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 55 FEATURE: The Kraken Sleepeth

Who is the hero of the game, what and bottom. This makes replaying levels Ibbotson (the audio engineer who character do you play? much more interesting and enhances the recorded the voice over) I was introduced You control the bathysphere designed feeling of mystery I hope. to Peet Torjussen, a professional actor who and occupied by Professor Eldritch. He gladly obliged, delivering just what I’d is researching the flora and fauna around The game looks sublime, was it asked for at an audition. the north coast of Scotland when he finds important to get that B Movie look evidence on a sunken ship. His curiosity spot on? He also suggested another tack, the voice piqued he explores neighbouring sites, Thanks, I’ve a strong background in we ended up recording, which was so finding weird, unnatural mutations and art direction and as a solo project I much better. It sounds like John Hurt to the hull of a ship he discovers was reported wasn’t limited by a licence or conflicting me, more breathy and has a fragility whilst sinking in Antarctic waters... And the opinions. I love those old movies for still being bombastic enough. mystery begins in earnest! their visual style as much as their sense of wonder, and fun. Games obsessed with Can you tell us about any sharp How important is the narrative to photo-realism miss a trick as far as I’m learning curves that you have had the game, would you say it is an concerned, expressive styles are another creating games? important as the gameplay? tool to make the player feel scared, or Cue old man’s voice, misty screen I really don’t separate narrative from elated, or anxious. timewarp effect... When I joined the gameplay in TKS, one drives the other industry 15 years ago things were very drives the other. The story is intrinsic to As game designers we should exploit the different in terms of tools and technology the game, but it can be played without any tools we have and not seek to copy films but as an artist the core skills are still interest in the narrative. The structure of or TV slavishly. Interaction is what make the same. Drawing, lighting, form, the story arcs across the locations around games different so we need to exploit that composition, colour theory, etc. still the world but the puzzle elements require to offer unique experiences. So the sound, separate artists. no memory of previous events. The music and visual effects actually change in game is designed so players can enjoy the reaction to the players performance in TKS. I was lucky enough to work with some narrative as part of the atmosphere, it’s really talented people and put the time told via voice over (with subtitles) but The light shining on the pod, the and effort in. It’s easier than even to make doesn’t require reading or press-A-to- music, it feels like you are on your games now, but still hard to make games continue mechanic, so it can flow a bit own sinking to the bottom of the well, and nigh-impossible to make a living quicker and keep the tension. I want drive ocean. How did you create such an from making your own games. the player on to explore another site on atmosphere? the map, or retry on failure. Visually it’s about the combination of If you’re interested in making games just slightly saturated palette, a little bloom, download Unity and follow some tutorials. Tell us a little bit about the game some post-effect noise really. The sound Keep your idea as small as possible but play? design, music, voice over and art direction finish it and release it in some shape or The heart of the gameplay is a twin-stick all support each other so the final effect form. Watch other people play. shooter with asteroids-like control eg. a is more cohesive. My approach is prove slight weight to the bathysphere to get the the fun and core mechanic first, then What is next for you and the game? underwater feel. Movement is left stick/ start to hone the direction. No amount of TKS was a great ride for me, I was keyboard and directional shooting is right great music or pretty content will rescue a nominated for a TIGA award and invited stick/mouse. Touch screen controls are also poorly executed game mechanic. I made to show the game at the BAFTA Inside supported. By collecting artefacts across plenty of mistakes on TKS and I’m still Games Arcade at Rezzed. Since then levels the player can choose upgrading learning and practising the craft of making I’ve been playing with 4 new ideas and paths for Engine (top speed), Weapon (5 games after 15 years. showed one Insomnia last week to a great classes with sub-class improvements), Hull reception from players. strength (health) and Battery (torch life). I honestly wish I’d spent a lot more time designing the backgrounds and enemies I’m now focussing on turning that into The right stick/mouse also directs a torch but TKS was my first coding project really a full game and will be showing builds light with fades as the battery is used. This and I spent a lot more time on code than across this year. Follow @teampesky for limits the range the player can see so as I’d expected. dates and information, maybe even open they sink into the depths the atmosphere playtests. « because more claustrophobic. I don’t want How did you find the voiceover for to detail more as discovering the world is the game? It’s great. The Kraken Sleepeth is available for a free part of the fun of games I think. The levels My original direction was Brian Blessed trial. Visit the Facebook page for more are randomly generated apart from the top (turned down bit) but through Jerry details: www.facebook.com/TeamPesky

56 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 57 NEXT GEN: The flaws of Google Play

The flaws of google play

Google Play is the official go-to place for Android games, without all the controls of Apple’s App Store. But, says Ophelia Matthews-Smith, is it all that it seems?

oogle Play is one of the most use Google Play to install games are Also, the App Store is more child- used apps when looking to children as they get bored of games friendly than the Google Play store, G download a new game… yet it quite quickly. When they’re looking because here are less people swearing, has its flaws. for a game, inappropriate content will less inappropriate content in games and come up. Whether it is pictures, names when it comes to buying apps (games), When you look for a game, you’ll or descriptions it shouldn’t be where it is harder for a child to pay using their rarely come across a dodgy game. children will be able to access it. parent’s credit or debit card. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean they don’t exist because they can be found. Personally, I think that there shouldn’t So, the conclusion is: Google Play have By ‘dodgy’, I mean a game that has a be content un-suitable a game store. some games that have viruses, some virus. Like a computer, things that you This leads on to the security levels of games have so many pop-up ads that install can wield viruses… but because submitting a game. you can’t play the game at all, Google it’s a phone, the viruses are much harder Play doesn’t check the games that are let to get rid of. If you’re lucky, it may just Google Play is different to the App onto their store for people to download be a virus that will take a while to get Store in many different ways. For and there is inappropriate content rid of however, if you’re unlucky it may instance, Google Play tend to not look lurking in the depths of games. destroy your phone. at the games that are submitted, they just submit the games onto their store However, they give companies in Not all dodgy games have viruses for anybody who uses Google Play their youth the chance to share their though. Some games may be really to access. Anything can be added to games, they give people the chance to good games but are so riddled with Google Play, almost instantly! download games, whether they’re good pop-up ads that you can’t even get to or not. Talking of games, I heard of a the game. Every couple of seconds an What is said and described to be a game I might want to download… « advertisement will pop up, sending you game might not actually be a game, but to the Google Play store, only to find because Google Play has no security or yet another game riddled with ads. control over what is added to their store it will be added anyway! Surely they They then expect you to pay money to must have enough people working on remove the ads, but you won’t know the Google Play store to monitor the whether it is worth paying for the game games that are added. “Inappropriate or worth uninstalling it, or if the game is even good. The Apple App Store has many areas content is a that are worse than Google Play. For Sometimes, the game may ask for your instance: Google Play gives companies major issue card details to remove the ads, and then a chance to make games worth billions not even remove the advertisements. of pounds or dollars, yet the App Store on the Google There’s also been cases where a game is strict and because a lot of their games has had so many ads that you couldn’t are extremely good, new games won’t be Play store for even enter your details to remove them noticed by many. without the game being too glitch or many separate full of ads! Google Play is extremely quick to add a game to their store (partly because reasons...” Inappropriate content is a major issue they don’t look at the games that the on the Google Play store for many companies submit), yet it takes weeks for separate reasons. Most people who a game to be accepted onto the App Store.

58 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 59 FEATURE: Brighter Day Brighter Day – Probably the most colourful horror game you will ever play.

Sometimes a game comes along and turns an entire genre on its head. A game that makes you think “but wait, it shouldn’t be like this...” One of those games is Brighter Day, says Lee Smith.

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t’s the eyes. Those blooming eyes. There When you start the game, you awake in other end. There are no blood splatters I am playing a game that has more what looks like a heavily sanitised hospital on the walls, and promises of zombie Isickly bright colours than Jony Ives room, which it is. You are in a psychiatric Nazis. There isn’t even a weird old woman version of iOS, and this eye appears and hospital and something has gone very rocking back and forth on her chair, I scream like a school girl who has just wrong it seems. There are no people warning you of the “terrors ahead mwah learned that a member of One Direction around, only these ‘eyes’ roaming the ha ha ha...” has left the band to embark on a solo corridors. career. It does, however, create a tension in the Somehow you have to find a way to escape game that is very seldom felt, with just a This shouldn’t happen. I have watched from there and also find out exactly what few simple graphics and a gameplay that far too many horror films, and played too has happened. You do this by reading takes grip of your every emotion without many horror games, for this to happen. some of the messages of the computers overburdening you with convoluted story that have been left on, and start building a lines that, often, don’t even make sense. This is no trip, no ‘hey man, I am picture of why there is nobody there. unscarable, I am a freaking hard man, There is a demo of the game available nothing scares me...’ kind of boast. Mearly As I mentioned, the eyes patrol the which is a free download. This gives you a statement of fact. Everyone becomes corridors, searching for you. Now you can the chance to play the first level, up to desensitised a little after a while, that is toss collected pills which are left in the when you manage to escape from the just normal. Which makes the fact that I bathrooms of various rooms to distract hospital and when even more scary fun jumped, literally jumped, at certain points them, or exploit their fondness for big begins, but the game itself is only £1.99 to while playing this game. glowing lights, but there are an awful lot buy anyway. This is both for the PC and of them and they catch you... quickly... the Mac. My wife thinks that I am a little mad but my daughters, who have played the game, What is refeshing about Brighter Day is Personally, I wouldn’t want to see this know. This is quite simply the scariest that it doesn’t rely on the usual tactics game on the mobile apps stores, purely for game I have ever played. employed by those whose aim is to scare the reason that I don’t want to be playing the bejesus out of you. it, on a game, and then screaming and As I have mentioned Brighter Day is running down it like the complete wreck awash with very bright colours, and it also There are no long dark corridors that that this game turns me into. « has some of the spookiest music you will you have to walk down, that has just one ever hear too. flickering and slightly swaying light at the theloneliestpixel.itch.io/brighterday

62 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM “This eye appears and I scream like a school girl who has just learned that a member of One Direction has left the band...”

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IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 63 EVENTS: E3 Los Angeles 2015

E3... We ‘Experienced the Evolution’ in the sunny LA climate.

Richard, IND13’s globe The biggest 3 things I remember from trotting developer, went to the Microsoft announcements were the E3 2015 conference in the - 30th Anniversary LA... one of the highlights of Edition - with 30 games for a the gaming year. ridiculously low price of $29.99, but exclusively for . Lets hope it oing to the E3 in Los Angeles will take us less time to play all those is one of the highlights of times in a game marathon after release Gthe year for me. Not only of August 4th this year because of sunny LA California and the T-Shirt (or Tees how they call Also interesting was the fact that them here) climate, but also because the Xbox One will have backwards of the attractions and bit less public compatibility with a growing number access to check out the upcoming of your dust catching Xbox 360 video games. Having said that, this games. Surprisingly this comes with year they handed out 5000 tickets to no extra cost, but not all games are gamers. working yet. Microsoft says over 100 titles will become available to resurrect It seems the E3 is mutating slowly on your shiny Xbox One by this fall from a Tradeshow to a consumer (yes meaning 2015), and hundreds Expo like the Gamescon. This is just more in the months to come. an observation some people shared with me, who going there for almost I hope they will announce the first a decade. Xbox backwards compatibility, so that I can recoup my long term investment What I find also great about the Steal Battalion (2002) aka Tekki and E3 are the pre-show live-stream (possibly) the most unique controller announcements by Microsoft, Sony, in games history. Well maybe it just Nintendo, EA and Ubisoft. stays a dream.

64 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 65 EVENTS: E3 Los Angeles 2015

The most memorable part of the show was “There is so much more I want to do as a obviously the Mindcraft and HoloLens plus Surface in a cool and heart warming 2 player then just stand in static position. player demo. You must check this out on the YouTube channel to believe it. Playing Not the best first VR experience I would MindCraft together with others in the same room and on a table is pretty cool if give to a VRgin (VR virgin)...” it all work as advertised. that they are useing a pretty intelligent AI experience that is full of geeky references To Microsoft I have to say this: Don’t mess by Cyntient. and easterggs designed to excite the inner this cool tech up like the 1 or 2, child in all of us. Gameboy nostalgia- or Peter Molyneux’s project Milo (RIP). The pixel art Nuclear Throne looks also watery-eyes guaranteed! Which were discontinued and harder to good on the PS4 and the big screen. I saw get these days, if you fancy doing some Rami later at the Devolver trailer park. Starport on the other hand is a VR social (relatively) cheap motion capturing on This guy is everywhere I go, seriously ;) app that features games, expressive avatars, your PC for example. and amazing environments. Also a highlight was the IndieCade Also the Google Glass comes to Showcase and also the University The Lost Valley VR by Paper Crane Games mind,which was super expensive, but on and College stands with all kind of is a virtual reality photography excursion the plus side it made you look like a cool interesting and some strange games such into the land of beasts that time forgot. weirdo with one rapid eye ball movement as Dysforgiveness or FUNBOX with always looking up north. No offense. Put more physical and intimate collaboration The SMS Racing is about the thrill of it next to the Virtual Boy in the dusty with friends. Or TRIPAD minimalist texting and driving. I like their blurb: shelf… 3-player game ‘platform’, constructed ‘Do you have what it takes to race at the using LaunchPad DJ controllers, mounted highest level while responding to your Microsoft said the HoloLens is an in an angled cubical configuration. Those friends’ messages? You don’t want to be Enterprise device first, so lets see what it defiantly quality for a ‘The wild Rumpus’ rude, do you?’ – Most defiantly SMS over will cost at the end as well. Price point event with friends. Driving in this game, or is it… and usability are important for the success of this intriguing device. It is comes It was a bit surprised to see also a few VR Btw, if you are in LA around October through the backdoor as the good old IBM Indie titles there too. between 22-25 by pure accident or luck, PC Compatible discussed as a working then you have the chance to play those horse that was actually a better and more For example Pixel Ripped by Ana Ribeiro titles at the IndieCade® Festival in Culver meaningful gaming machine for most of us. which is a madcap, VR homage to City, CA. gaming history. A VR gaming experience Lets Talk Indie! that transports the player back into a Outside of the E3 in a Parking lot not GALAK-Z is still on of my favourite 1980s classroom, where they must try to to far far away was the Devolver trailer games and I can’t wait to play it. It was complete their favourite handheld video camp with nice air-conditioned Airstream seen for a while now and it seems it is game but not get caught in the process. trailers to prevent the inside PCs from coming out this year after all on PS4. melting. I was running a bit out of time, Jake Kazdal the Founder and Creative/Art Unlike anything else available, Pixel to check out all the games, but the one Director at 17-Bit reveals in an interview Ripped is a crazy, retro and meta that sticked out the was most defiantly

66 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM WE ARE ANOUK

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IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 67 EVENTS: E3 Los Angeles 2015

Mother Russia Bleeds. Unfortunately also The new final Oculus Rift was very the people in this 4 player co-op beat- light and tiny compared to all previous em-up are bleeding - a lot, which makes Developer Kits I had. Unfortunately I was it at least an PEGI 15 title or higher. In allowed to test the new Touch (Halfmoon) Germany it might not even come out after hand devices. They had them only out for “Microsoft said all with, who knows. It does take itself not display, which seem they are not confident to serious though, which makes fun to to be tested by the public yet. the HoloLens is an continue playing through the levels. AirMech VR by Carbon Games, Damaged Enterprise device Where is VR and Quo Vadis? Core by High Voltage and Eve: Valkyrie by There was not so much buzz about VR CCP Games are my favourites. VR sports: first, so lets see in the mainstream as I hoped. Partially I Challenge Ice Hockey, think it is a problem that VR is more an by and Chronos by what it will cost at experiential, then ‘intellectual’ thing. Gunfire Games did not worked for me in VR. They don’t seem like games design for the end as well...” You only get it really after trying it on VR and made me a bit disorientated. yourself. Talking about it is useless. I liked the VR sports idea with Ice I had the chance to try out a few new Hockey, but it was more a left right hand games on the Gear VR and latest Oculus limited movements experience, which I after queuing 45 minutes for each game would expect for Google Cardboard, but and platform. now when I have a Xbox One controller in You can read more about my hands. There is so much more I want the E3 LA confernce s on the Omega Agent by Fireproof and Anshar to do as a player then just stand in static IND13 website: http://ind13. Wars 2 by OZWE where my favourites on position. Not the best first VR experience com/e3-awesomeness-2015/ the Gear VR with the Samsung Galaxy S6. I would give to a VRgin (VR virgin). «

68 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM EVENTS: Develop 2015

Brighton. Sun. Develop...

Richard went from LA to inspiring, interesting and an entertaining watch and learn more on the YouTube the Brighton, to attend the annual speech as he also showed a card Develop channel. Develop conference for the first, trick in front of the audience. and not the last, time. VR Talks: Develop 2015 also interviewed Rami This time we had two ladies talking about eing first time at the Develop Ismail from Vlambeer about his keynote there experience with there Indie VR conference in (almost) sunny speech and the way they treat and educate games year. BBrighton UK at the Hilton Hotel their customers. Also interesting is how to close to the beach, I honestly wasn’t for deal with those less pleasant once and that Ana Ribeiro with Pixel Ripped (http:// sure what to expect from the conference, developers need gamers, but not the other www.pixelriftgame.com) also launched her well except it is for developers obviously. way around. Kickstarer during the conference. Support Over 1800 joined the 3 day conference this great game. It is totally worth it as it is this year, of which the last 2 days also The talk and interview Jennifer so different from most VR games I played contains the Develop Expo. Schneidereit (Nyamam) about being so far. Indie, traveling to conferenced and The line-up of speakers was quite talking about here game Tengami, which Katie Goode from Triangular Pixels talked something I have to say. I really received Apple’s coveted Editor’s Choice about her VR game Smash Hit Plunder appreciated the open keynote speachand Award. Jennifer looked at the 3 and a half and creating Rich Dynamic VR Gameplay. honest shares by Rami Ismail (Vlambeer), years spent making Tengami and share Definitely worth checking out the talk and Randy Pitchford (), Neil Nyamyam’s key findings on topics such as her interview on the Develop channel as Young (N3TWORK, DeNA, ngmoco:) ) how to stand out in the F2P dominated well. and may more. mobile world, working with the different platform holders and lessons learned from London Studios talked about London The first day was already quite packed with self-publishing on several platforms. Heist and how to load a gun in VR with talks Neil Young with his Evolve Keynote two Move controllers and Atomhawk about VR and AR and mobile. The essence Mike Rose (tinyBuild Games) talked about shared insights about iterations of the VR of his message is: ‘Mobile is not dead and ‘Keeping Ahead of the Video Marketing UI in the game CCP’s EVE Valkyrie. I VR/AR is taking longer to be where we Curve’ met the Atomhawk guys on a party before actually want it to be at the moment’. there talk and I go to know that they also Mike Rose talks about the importance of worked on movies such as Guardian of Randy Pitchford’s (Gearbox Software) using ‘YouTubers’ and ‘Twitchers’ helping the Galaxy and games like The Order or keynote speech ‘Why We Fight’ was to promote your game. Very useful to Mortal Kombat X. «

IND13.COM SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX 69 EVENTS: Develop 2015 Indie Showcase Awards

The Develop Awards are run by Develop Magazine, with more than 170 companies in the room this year.

The winner of this years Indie showcase awards were Dan Da Rocha and Henry Hoffman with the game Hue. Congratulations to you guys!

New Games IP – PC/ Console

New Games IP – Mobile Plunder Pirates Engine Micro Studio Use of a Licence or IP Unity 5 Roll7 Alien: Isolation Services Independent Studios Visual Arts Audiomotion Space Ape Games Lumio City QA & Localisation In-House Studio Audio Accomplishment Testology Alien: Isolation Creative Outsourcer – Visual & New Studio Use of Narrative Development Starship Life is strange Speech Graphics

Technology Provider Creative Outsourcer – Audio Development Legend Oculus VR (aka Oculus Rift) Side Chris & Tim Stamper

Design & Creativity Tool Recruiter Speedtree for Games Amiqus You can read more about the Develp conference on the Production Tool Publishing Hero IND13 website: http://ind13. Perforce Team 17 com/develop-brighton-2015/

70 SUMMER 2015 ISSUE SIX IND13.COM www.souzou.co

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