General game developing news and updates.
Steel Rats™ is Now Available on Steam and is 15% off!*
Wreck and ride in a visceral and ground-breaking evolution of the 2.5D action arcade genre, fusing destructive, octane-fuelled, motorbike combat and death-defying stunt gameplay, set in a visually stylised retro future world. Switch between four unique characters as you wreak havoc!
*Offer ends November 14 at 10AM Pacific Time
The Armistice Steam Sale fundraiser is back, promoting peaceful gameplay in support of children still affected by war today. This year marks 100 years since the armistice that ended the First World War, so War Child has pulled together a bunch of the best-selling games to mark the occasion that are either non-violent or have been modified as part of this year’s Armistice campaign (Dick Wilde & Prison Architect).
Each game that is part of the sale is donating a % of developer proceeds to War Child UK & its US partner Children in Conflict to raise vital funds for children whose lives have been torn apart by war.
ABZ (505 Games) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
Broken Sword 5 (Revolution Games) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 25%
Democracy 3 (Positech) – Donating 100% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 25%
Dick Wilde (PlayStack) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
Machinarium (Amanita Design) – Donating 60% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 60%
Mini Metro (Dinosaur Polo Club) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
Prison Architect (Introversion Software) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
Scanner Sombre (Introversion Software) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
RiME (Six Foot) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 50%
The Talos Principle (Devolver Digital) – Donating 50% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
The Room (Fireproof Games) – Donating 100% of developer proceeds / Discounted by 75%
Today’s Deal: Save 30% on The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II!*
Look for the deals each day on the front page of Steam. Or follow us on twitter or Facebook for instant notifications wherever you are!
*Offer ends November 12 at 10AM Pacific Time
07 Nov 2018
Feral Interactive have announced today that their highly successful iOS port of Rome: Total War will be coming to Android this winter, nearly two years after the iPad version was released.
We’ve not been given anything more beyond that – so we may not see it till early 2019, but it’s good to see this iconic strategy franchise finally being made available for Android users. And if they’re able to do this, I imagine Barbarian Invasion and Alexander may be on the cards as well (unless they don’t think it’d be financially worth it, I suppose).
[embedded content]
While the android release is going to be premium as well, Feral are also being quite conservative with their roll-out plans. The press release we received mentions:
ROME: Total War for Android will be released in North America, Europe, Australia and some Asian territories, and supported on a limited range of devices. More information on territories and devices will be available closer to release.
As well as the Google Play Store, you’ll also be able to purchase Rome: Total War from the Samsung Galaxy Apps store as well.
Love Letter is a game of courtly intrigue in which two to four players seek to gain the affections of Princess Annette. However, the Princess is locked away in the palace and not accepting visitors, which means that her suitors have to rely on occupants of the palace to deliver their letters of undying love. I guess a trip to the local post office is not an option.
Love Letter was originally a Japanese game designed by Seiji Kanai. Its potential was quickly recognised and a version with a new theme and redesigned artwork was released for the Western market. The game proved to be hugely successful and triggered a trend for microgames. Typically, these games come in a tiny box, with simple rules and only take a few minutes to play. Not only did the original inspire a host of similar games but also led to a range of re-themes, which include Adventure Time, Star Wars and The Hobbit.
The game consists of a deck of just sixteen cards, only eight of which are unique. At the start of the game, to add a little unpredictability, one card is removed from the already skinny deck. Players are dealt a single card and then are good to go. On a turn, players simply draw a card and then play either of the two cards in their hand. Used cards remain in front of the player for the rest of the game to aid deduction and break ties. Each card represents a member of the royal household, from lowly guards to the princess herself. The world of romance can be brutal and unforgiving, which means that to ensure that your letter gets delivered to the princess, you must do your best to eliminate the opposition. You do this by enlisting the help of members of the palace, each of who have a special skill.
A round ends when there is only one suitor left standing or the deck of cards is exhausted. If more than one player is still in the game then the one with the highest ranked card in their hand wins. If more than one player has the same ranked card then the tie is resolved by adding up the ranks of the cards that they have played during the course of the game. The winner is awarded a point, with the amount of points required to claim victory dependant on the number of players.
To get a feel of how Love Letter actually plays we will need to take a look at the cards. Each character card has a ranking, with the highest being the princess. Having her in your hand is risky because if a player is ever forced to discard the princess then they lose. The King demands that two players exchange their cards, whilst the Prince forces a suitor to discard their card and draw a new one. The countess doesn’t have a special power and must be discarded if you also have the Prince or King. The Baron favours a no-nonsense approach, giving the owner the chance to challenge another player. Both reveal their cards and the player with the lower rank is eliminated. The handmaiden protects you from the effects of other cards for an entire turn, whilst the busybody priest will let you take a peek at another player’s card. Lowest ranked and most numerous are the guards. These give you a chance to guess an opponent’s card and if correct, then the unfortunate target is eliminated.
Love Letter is a wonder of minimalist design; it is incredible how just a few cards can conjure up such a delicious feeling of court intrigue. Deducing the cards in your opponents’ hands is obviously the key to success, There are obvious ways, such as playing a guard but also other subtler ways, which usually involve trying to read between the lines. However, beware because a smart opponent will be actively trying to distract you, leading you up the garden path, only to be waiting in the bushes to whack you over the head with a garden gnome. A shrewd player will keep a check on the cards played and those that possibly remain. They will try and put others off the scent by, for instance, using a guard to issue a challenge when they know very well that the target doesn’t have that particular card because it is already nestling in their own hand.
Each round plays so quickly that it never gets dull, even getting eliminated will not have you sitting on the sidelines for too long. The simple nature of Love Letter means that you never take it too seriously. Because the time investment is so short you are encouraged to be reckless, which makes the game so enjoyable.
The digital version looks the part, sticking closely to the art design of the original, complete with heaving bosoms and fluttering fans. Each card uses stars to provide up to date information regarding how many copies of each card remain in play, which makes things even easier. Options are pretty limited, you can play offline against AI opponents or online in public or private multiplayer matches. Playing the app also eliminates any potential cheating but there again why would you play with cheats in the first place?
The big question is why you would want to play this over the original card game? The physical version is cheap and portable and comes in a cool velvet bag. I guess the big draw is that you can play online whenever you want. However, transfer the game to a clinical online environment and the game’s shortcomings are thrown into stark relief. A lucky guess can have the game ending before it has even begun, whilst a lot of the time the game feels like it is playing itself with no real input from the player.
More than many other games, Love Letter relies on the human touch. The Princess Bride style bluffing just doesn’t work without that immediate interaction with other players. It is not a shortcoming of the game but a shortcoming of the digital medium that makes it an odd choice for conversion to the digital format.
Brought to life through delicate art, detailed animation and an elegant original score, ethereal indie game GRIS comes to the Nintendo Switch system on Dec. 13. The new game from independent publisher Devolver Digital tells the powerful story of Gris, a young girl pained with loss who takes an emotional journey through a serene and evocative world free of danger, frustration and death. Light puzzles, platforming sequences and optional skill-based challenges will reveal themselves to Gris as she grows emotionally, unveiling new paths for her to explore with her new abilities.
Launching just in time for the holidays, GRIS is one of many independent games available in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch. Covering nearly every genre, these critically acclaimed games from independent developers, or Nindies, offer something for every type of player. Lucky Nintendo Switch owners who receive a Nintendo eShop gift card as a present this year can redeem it to stock up on some of these widely loved games.
To help keep up with all the recent Nindie news, here are some additional updates about indie games on the way, games that recently launched and fun news about the world of independent game development you might have missed.
In Other Nindie News…
Nindie Extras
For more information about all the great indie games on or coming to Nintendo Switch, visit https://www.nintendo.com/games/nintendo-switch-nindies-hits.
The formidable members of the Pokémon League are back and ready to challenge players of Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! when the games launch on Nintendo Switch later this month.
Inspired by Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! games have given the Kanto region and its inhabitants a major visual update, and the Elite Four are no exception. Check out the new looks for Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha, and Lance in their cameo appearances in this latest video: https://youtu.be/ulsNuIXES9s!
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! will be available exclusively on Nintendo Switch on November 16, 2018. For more information, please visit pokemonletsgo.pokemon.com/en-us/.
Mild Cartoon Violence
The boss battle is an awe-inspiring gameplay culmination that evaluates and breaks acquired skills, reveals more of the story, and serves as a major, memorable test of strength for the player.
In this GDC 2018 session, Untame’s (known for the puzzle-platformer Mushroom 11) Itay Keren discusses the various aspects that make a well-designed, effective and memorable boss battle.
Through providing a retrospective of classic to modern game moments, Keren discusses the design fundamentals of boss battles while evoking memories of players’ favorite video game encounters.
It’s an insightful talk that’s still worth watching, so developers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to do so now that it’s freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!
In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its accompanying YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.
Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.
Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Riot Games yesterday by one current and one former employee, who allege that Riot allowed gender-based discrimination and promoted an environment catered to putting male employees first.
The lawsuit comes three months after several current and former Riot employees pulled back the curtain hiding a toxic workplace environment which ultimately drives women out of the studio.
The plaintiffs include former Riot employee Jessica Negron and current employee Melanie McCracken, who claim they want to prevent Riot from “creating, encouraging, and maintaining a work environment that exposes its female employees to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of their gender or sex.”
According to those who have shared their experiences, Riot fosters a hostile environment for some of the women who work there and cultivates a feedback culture which rewards men and demeans women.
Riot responded to the allegations by providing plans to move forward and correct the company culture that has enabled those past wrongs, even hiring Uber’s former senior vice president for leadership and strategy Frances Frei to help improve its workplace culture.
However as Kotaku reports, the lawsuit claims that “like many of Riot Games’ female employees, Plaintiffs have been denied equal pay and found their careers stifled because they are women.”
“Moreover, Plaintiffs have also seen their working conditions negatively impacted because of the ongoing sexual harassment, misconduct, and bias which predominate the sexually-hostile working environment of Riot Games.”
The complaint also argues that Riot violated California’s Equal Pay Act and law against gender-based discrimination at the workplace and contains examples of gender-based discrimination observed by the plaintiffs.
They are asking for compensation on unpaid wages, damages, and other penalties, although an exact amount will be determined at trial. The entire lawsuit can be viewed here.
The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!
Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.
Location: Burbank, California
Insomniac Games is looking for a talented Senior Environment Technical Artist, the link between our programming and art teams. You know what they say, a team is only as strong as its weakest link! The Senior Technical Artist blends significant industry experience and artistic versatility to a variety of technical art tasks. They will be responsible for collaborating with the art team to push the look and feel of our games to the next level using bleeding edge technology. This role will assist with the creation of textures, materials, writing shader code, and be a liaison between the art and programming departments. Additionally, the individual works with art, pipeline and programming teams to manage budgets, performance issues, quality control and suggest pipeline improvements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
Education and/or Experience:
This is a tall order – but we know you’re out there! We look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
Interested? Apply now.
Whether you’re just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what’s out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.
Gamasutra’s Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.
Looking for a new job? Get started here. Are you a recruiter looking for talent? Post jobs here.
