Game A Day

2 Girls 1 Game Podcast Contest!

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:35:57 -0500

Okay, so it’s not a Game A Day. In fact.. It’s not a game a month. I’ve been rearranging several aspects of my life, including moving so things haven’t been getting updated around here, but that will change soon enough. Meanwhile, why don’t you head on over to the 2 Girls 1 Game podcast homepage and see about winning the copy of The Whispered World we’re giving away. You have until Saturday to post your comment and enter to win, so go check it out!

5 Minute MMORPG

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:19:30 -0500

Five minute MMORPG aims to recreate the MMORPG experience we all know and love. You’re put together in a party with six others and you must level up, PVP, and deal with lag while you aim to come out on top.

It’s a deviously simple game that I spent the better part of an hour playing. I can only image it’s what people who play multiplayer games on dial-up must deal with, because lag is incorporated into the game.

You’re basically traversing a huge square that is the game world, attempting to player kill everyone else while avoiding getting player killed yourself. There are no mages and priests and healing rotations, so for those spastic tanks, sit down. You’re left with a sword and board and you must decide when in your lag you should sword, and when you should board.

It’s a great time waster, as you can travel around collecting treasure and owning the other people on the map, and when you manage to win one, it’s a pretty great feeling. Of course, when you die because you lagged into someone’s sword, well now you have a valid excuse, don’t you?

The name of the game is 5 minute MMORPG, but even on the game’s description it tells you that it’s not that massive. In fact, I think there’s only room for around 6 or so players on the field, and if not enough people are playing, the game will fill in the slots with computer bots.

The design team behind the game conceived the game for the Nordic Game Jam and there are quite a few of them, so head on over to the website by clicking the download button and check the game out. It’s a great time waster and you’ll find yourself chuckling at the five minute lore.

Treasure Island Online

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:38:34 -0500

Think of Treasure Island Online as battleship for pirates. It’s an interesting social experiment that has several people playing at the moment, so it’s sure to keep you entertained for a few hours if you enjoy suspense.

The premise for the game is quite simple. You’re marooned on an island with however many other people are playing the game, and you’re tasked with finding the square that has the treasure. The kicker is that it costs one gold to dig a square, so if you go digging like crazy, you’ll quickly find you’ve run out of money.

Finding the balance between digging to progress the game, and digging to win is the name of the game in Jesse Venbrux’s latest game. Of course, the online aspect is really what makes the game, because there’s nothing like swooping in on a progressed board to find the treasure. My current high score has been 130 coins, but I’m sure there’s someone out there who can beat that. After all, the ultimate goal of the game is to find this:

Of course, how much you find is entirely randomly generated, as well. Anywhere from 5 to 30 coins are hidden in a chest on the island, and once someone finds it, the game is reset. It was a two day effort by Jesse Venbrux, so check it out and give it a play. It’s definitely fun watching people scramble around to dig.

Dreamside Maroon

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:32:44 -0500

Dreamside Maroon is the interesting creation of four DigiPen students, and an IGF 2010 Student Showcase winner. I believe if the game had been eligible for the Visual Arts category, it would have won that as well, as its a completely beautiful game.

You play a small boy named Aster who has control of a vine which he can grow to get into the moon. Of course, it’s any little boy’s dream to get to the moon and the entire game takes place as Aster is dreaming. It’s not a very beefy download given how great the game looks, which is one of the things that surprised me about it.

The game is controlled either with the keyboard, or with a 360 controller, should you possess the wired variety. Of course, the enjoyment you get out of the game depends on whether you take the time to explore the world, or whether you rocket straight to the moon.

I went both paths and found that when I explored my world by landing next to the large lanterns, I was clued in a bit to the feelings of Aster and the world around him. This also spawned fireflies which were attracted to the lantern Aster holds and this adds a secondary objective to the game: how many fireflies will you bring to the moon with you?

As you can see, it’s possible to grow you vine in just about any direction, allowing you to collect the fireflies and reach the next lantern to collect more. My only qualm with the game is that it’s nearly impossible to control with a keyboard, so I quickly turned to my 360 controller. This was somewhat easier, but it’s not the fluid controlled experience one would hope to get.

If you’re interested in checking out Dreamside Maroon and exploring Aster’s world, hit the download button to be taken to the website. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the team biographies as there is some great talent behind this IGF Student Showcase winner.

2 Girls 1 Game Episode #03 - Something Western This week we had...

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:42:00 -0500

2 Girls 1 Game Episode #03 - Something Western

This week we had a chance to sit down with two developers from Fatshark who are working on Lead & Gold, a co-operative multiplayer team-based shooter. In addition, we take a look at Eskil Steenberg’s Love, which is a great not so massively multi-player game that requires players work together in order to succeed.

You can listen to the podcast below and if you’re curious about any of the things we’ve talked about, go ahead and click through to the main episode page using this link. Don’t forget to join us next Sunday for another episode of 2 Girls 1 Game, the indie gaming podcast!

Please Stand By

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:47:29 -0500

I wish there were an awesome game called Please Stand By that I’m introducing to you. However, the sad truth is that things have been pretty hectic over here and I haven’t gotten around to playing any great indie games to feature on the blog. That’s not to say Game A Day is going anywhere, though!

As many of you might know, I’ve been working together with Mahkia to create an indie gaming podcast and get it up and running. We’re recording our third episode this week and it’s going to be a big one, so getting things situated with the podcast has taken up a lot of my time. Once things have settled down and I’ve fallen into the routine of getting the podcast recorded on Thursdays and out the door on either Saturday or Sunday, we’ll see our regularly scheduled indie gaming posts returning.

If you’re interested in checking out the podcast, you can find it here. Please let us know what you think, as we’re breaking into a niche that really hasn’t been done before, so all feedback is welcome.

Also, I know a few people have asked why the site is called Game A Day when I don’t post on the weekends. Ideally, when things aren’t so hectic, I’ll be posting a game every week day, and I use the weekend to refuel and find great games to present to you. But! I’ll also be posting on either Saturday or Sunday to inform Tumblr followers that a new episode for 2 Girls 1 Game has gone up. So look for that sometime in the future.

Notrium

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:21:00 -0600

Notrium is a really neat game in that it takes the essence of being trapped on a desert island and transforms the concept for space. As the pilot of a ship, you’re marooned on an alien planet with nothing but the broken remains of your escape pod. You’ve got to find parts to build a radio to initiate your rescue, but along the way you’ll run into some pretty unique challenges.

One of the interesting things about the game is the temperature gauge, which means you must constantly be aware of the day night cycle. The days on the planet are extremely hot, so resting under shade is necessary, whereas cold rains and night can leave you hypothermic and dead, if you’re not careful.

The UI is pretty easy to understand, but the controls are sort of hard to get used to, since you control the movement of your guy with the keyboard and the direction you’re firing with the mouse. Aside from a few control issues, the variety of things you can pick up around the planet are simply amazing, and the story is told through these pickups.

Finding transmitters, power sources, aliens for food, it’s all part of your survival, and since each time the game is loaded it’s randomly generated, you can be sure no two survival attempts are the same. Once you get the hang of gameplay you’ll find yourself hooked and wanting to play more, thinking strategically as to when you can best raid the planet during the day.

Notrium was originally released in 2003 by Monkkonen, a company currently working on a new game in a similar vein called Driftmoon. Aside from the main story, there are several playable mods for Notrium, so if you find yourself growing tired of what’s available, don’t hesitate to download a few of the player created mods to have some fun.

Warsow

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:10:00 -0600

Warsow is a unique fast paced first person shooter with unique style and tons of weaponry to own your opponents with. In fact, Warsow is pretty much like Borderlands duels meets the Matrix, since you can dive, dash, run, and jump your way through the levels to stay one step ahead of your enemy in the hopes of out gunning them.

The humor in Warsow is pretty unique, too.. as the characters range from a crazed cyber punk to a rocket launcher wielding war pig. It also features your standard FPS game modes, like capture the flag, team death match, and good ol’ every man for himself.

It’s a great game with unique humor and fast paced fun, available on all three major OSes, so there’s no reason not to give it a try if you love first person shooters. There’s a ton of weapons to try, plenty of characters to play, and even more enemies to splatter, so give it a try. You might like it!

Maru

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:05:59 -0600

Maru is a short game. In fact, it only has seven levels, which are easily completed in under 20 minutes. Of course, this is if you know the trick needed to go through the portal at the end of the level.

It’s delightfully simple and the graphics are amazing, making it a must play game just to waste a few minutes of your time. The story told via short screen flashes at the beginning of the game seems to say you’re collecting your friends that were scattered around the galaxy after a large explosion.

The puzzle elements of the game are little more than avoiding spikes on the platforms you jump to and from, but with the added difficulty of moving platforms and timing your hovering jumps, it can be quite the challenge to get through some of the later levels.

As you venture through the levels, you’ll collect these tiny black blobs that look like yourself, without a body. If you should die during a level, you’ll be transported back to the beginning and assume one of these dots for yourself, with a ghost following you instead of your dot. It’s an interesting concept, since you basically know how many chances you have by the balls you have hovering behind you.

The game was created by Jesse Venbrux and has an amazing sound track. While the game is short-lived, it’s worth experiencing for the soundtrack alone. So download it and give it a shot, and see if you can figure out the puzzle of the Maru.

Mytheon Closed Beta Contest

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:53:00 -0600

Mytheon is a gorgeous action oriented RPG game developed by True Games & Petroglyph Inc. It’s not a full fledged MMORPG like World of Warcraft or Warhammer, but more like what you would find as dungeon runs in those games.You can create a party of people to venture forth and complete quests or PvP, all set in a mythological environment.

There are three classes currently in the game, the Warcaster, the Elementalist, and the Eidolon. In generic fantasy terms, these equal the warrior, the mage, and the priest. True Games has promised more classes as the game progresses. Each class plays a unique role in the party make up, while being able to stand alone if you prefer solo play.

The game spans multiple different mythologies, with creatures from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology appearing as classes and enemies. The storyline for the game is pretty generic as far as RPGs go, with mankind rebelling against the gods in hopes of ruling themselves.

No matter what class you decide to play, your quest it to seek out mysterious power stones that have been littered across the land, said to possess the power of the Gods themselves. Each power stone acquired will grant your character new abilities to unlock and use during their adventures.

The game play style is similar to Diablo or other isometric RPGs, but the group gameplay is very reminscient of how you must set up your dungeon runs in an MMO like World of Warcraft. Having a tank and a healer as well as a damage dealer is ideal, allowing you to overcome massive challenges in the face of your enemies.

The game spans the entire length of Ancient Greece and Egypt, allowing you to explore the Aegean sea on your quest to obtain the power stones. You’ll collect new equipment and weapons the more you take up quests in areas located around Greece, so while the power stones are your main objective, getting upgrades for your gear in order to proceed through side quests is also an important part of the game.

Ready to give it a try? You can sign up on the main site for a chance to get into the closed beta, or you can leave a comment right down below, telling us your favorite deity from mythology and why. At the end of the week on Sunday, I’ll choose a winner and announce it here.

Contest Details:

Leave a comment below telling us about your favorite god from mythology and why.

Contest Closes:

Sunday 8PM CST

Desktop Dungeons

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:43:00 -0600

Desktop Dungeons is the first roguelike I’ve featured on Game A Day, and I’m happy to say it’s probably my favorite. It’s designed to be extremely accessible, in that an entire game can be played in around 10 minutes. Make no mistake though, just because the game can be finished in a few short minutes doesn’t mean it’s a pushover.

In fact, Desktop Dungeons is one of the most difficult games I’ve played, but the satisfaction of actually beating an end boss is so rewarding, you’ll find yourself loading up another dungeon just to see if you can perfect your strategy with your chosen race and class.

Before you even start the game you’re faced with the typical class and race selection, with pros and cons for each. Selecting the proper make up for a character here is important, as monsters that are even just one level ahead of you pack quite the wallop. You’ll need to plan your moves strategically as well, since each square of the dungeon you uncover replenishes your health and mana.

Thus, Desktop Dungeons works almost like a puzzler as well, since you’ll need to face the same level monsters in order to level up, while not exploring too much of the dungeon and thus robbing yourself of the ability to regenerate health and mana later on in the dungeon.

The object of the dungeon is to clear the level ten boss. Doing so with your tier one classes will unlock the second tier of classes, such as the Berserker, Monk, and Rogue. These classes operate similarly to their tier one counterparts, only with greater benefits and higher repercussions.

Aside from the normal challenge dungeon, there are also several others you can unlock, as well as a high score system you can utilize to upload your scores. Overall, Desktop Dungeons will reward you with hours of gameplay as you work to figure out the best strategies and unlock the tiers of characters and classes to play with.

Desktop Dungeons is a Game Maker game developed by Nandrew of the NAG forums. If you’re interested in giving it a shot, you won’t be disappointed. Nandrew works tirelessly to balance the game and ensure the user experience is a good one, so if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to let him know.

Spelunky

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:08:53 -0600

Spelunky is a trip back into the 8 bit glory days of the NES.It’s a great little puzzle platformer of discovering treasure and making it through a series of caves alive, all created by Derek Yu, who also worked on critically acclaimed platformer Aquaria.

The story for Spelunky is pretty simple, as were 8 bit games of yore. You take control of a tiny Indiana Jones like fellow, navigating through each level to discover pieces of treasure, over come enemies like bats and moles, and make it out with your treasure alive. It’s a great nod to the olden times and it does so very, very well.

The graphics of Spelunky accurately reflect the era of gaming the game is attempting to mimic, and the platforming action is really second to none. If you’ve put away your NES years ago but you still miss the games, then Spelunky is sure to ignite a spark of longing in you.

The interesting thing about the game is that the caves you traverse are all generated dynamically, so you’ll never visit the same level twice. In fact, you could play thousands of times and be confronted with different possibilities, so unlike your old NES games, Spelunky actually holds a massive amount of replay value.

Spelunky is currently available for free for the Windows platform, but creator Derek Yu has discussed the possibility of the game makings its way to the Xbox LIVE arcade. If you’re interested in checking out Spelunky and the dynamic levels the game has to offer, you can download it from the main site by clicking the download link.

Earth Eternal

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:51:00 -0600

So it’s been a while since I updated, but I believe this game is worth the wait. It’s called Earth Eternal and it is the first truly MMORPG game that you can play directly inside your browser. Some games like Sony’s Free Realms have hit on this concept, but they’ve launched programs through the browser.

Earth Eternal plays inside the browser just like Jagex’s Runescape.. only it’s a fun game to play instead of a crappy one. The setting for the game is pretty interesting as well. Basically, the time of man on earth has come and gone, and new creatures have taken our place.

The official storyline reads like this:

“The time of Man has passed. The great achievements of humankind have been lost to antiquity or reclaimed by Mother earth, leaving fresh ground for the ancient Beasts from which Man descended to return to Earth and contend with Demons, Faeries, Dragons, Gods, and Titans of old.”

As you can see, the game takes visual cues from popular MMOs like WoW, while maintaining its own unique style. There are 22 playable races to choose from, with the races ranging from lizard creatures to raccoons to yeti. In fact, there is a race for just about everyone, and if you don’t care for the animal avatars, there are clockwork bots for you to play.

These races are able to pick one of four classes from Knight, Druid, Mage, and Rogue. Of course, these play styles are what you would expect, with tanks, healers, and two damage dealers. Any race can be any class, so it’s interesting to see a Minotaur as a rogue, but the game has a unique battle system that more than makes up for the lack of additional classes.

The graphics are gorgeous and the environments are hugely varied, with instanced dungeons to explore and loot to be had. Some of man’s largest landmarks are still visible throughout the world, with the Eiffel Tower visible above.

The game has a large community that is very tightly knit, so finding someone to play with shouldn’t be hard. In my experience, everyone I encountered while playing was generally kind and willing to help, though I’m sure there are more than the fair share of assholes inhabiting the game.

You’ll explore varied locales with very distinct visual styles, and the world is large enough that you won’t be tired of exploring and entering new dungeons for a long time. Of course, the instances play out very similar to WoW, in that you’ll need a tank and a healer to survive, but if you get a good group of great people, Earth Eternal can be some of the best fun you’ve had in your browser to date.

Earth Eternal is currently in beta and has been in development for over four years. It’s an ambitious project headed by Sparkplay Media, with a unique look on how MMOs should be played in the future. If you’re interested in giving Earth Eternal a try, click the download link to be taken to the site to sign up.

Jumper Two

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:42:36 -0600

Jumper Two is the sequel to Matt Thorson’s highly popular Jumper. It’s a bit more refined, but at the same time, it still contains some of the best platforming jumping action you’ll find in any indie game. As with any of the games Matt designs, it’s very well put together with an excellent sound track.

One of the major changes between Jumper and Jumper Two aside from the many new levels to traverse is the fact that there are two difficulty levels. Normal is available for people who love platformers, but there is also an easy mode which gives you check points if you find normal just a bit too hard for your tastes.

The graphics are traditional Jumper style and the pacing is set much better than the first. If you’ve never played the first, the game is all about jumping, and the first few stages really get you used to the concept.

An interesting thing about the Jumper series is that it tracks your deaths, so when you’re finished with the game, you’ll know exactly how many times you died trying to complete your goal. Jumper is completely free, so give it a try if you love platforming games.

Number Ninjas

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:03:32 -0600

A flash game of unique quality that just might teach you something. There are several different levels that consist of you starting as the number one and attempting to finish the level by solving the equation at the bottom left of the screen.

To assist you, you have shruikens made of the four different mathematical functions. Your number changes according to the function you use to attack your enemy, as well as the enemies number. For example, if you switch your shruiken to the subtraction sign and attack the number six, you will be turned into the number five.

The design of the game is extremely simple but it works well for the game, as it’s done entirely in silhouettes. The equations start out pretty easy to get you used to the mechanic, but as you progress through the levels, they get increasingly harder. The game is still in the experimental stages, but what is complete is a blast to play.

Number Ninjas was developed by Peter Groeneweg for the Experimental Gameplay challenge. It is still being actively developed, but it’s still worth a look if you fancy a challenge and consider yourself great at math. Number Ninjas is a flash game, so there’s nothing to download, but click the download button to be taken to the site.

Dim

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:40:24 -0600

Platformer games are really a staple when it comes to indie games. The reason is because the basis is pretty simple. Guide your guy from point A to point B without dying along the way and you win. That’s the core of any platform game, so you can see why it’s important to mix it up a little bit.

Matt Thorson does just this with his platforming title, Dim. The graphics are what you would expect from a small indie developed game, but the polish is really what makes the game. Most games I’ve featured on Game A Day are simple platformers. You have a ray gun, go kill the world. Dim requires thought and planning and with the ability to flip between two dimensions, sometimes a less than lateral way of thinking.

The graphic style is entirely simplistic, but the thing that sets Dim apart from other games is that it has cut scenes and tells a story. At it’s heart, it is a platformer, but the game has some pretty devious puzzles for you to solve. With 50 levels of puzzling and platforming, Dim will probably keep you busy for a long time to come.

Another notable thing about the game is the music. I absolutely love the music in this game. It’s easy to listen to and really gives you the feeling that you are right there with Dr. Smarts creation as he tries to traverse various levels. It’s a great complement to the cut scenes that serve to progress the story of the game.

You’ll encounter your standard platforming obstacles like spikes, levers, traps and bottomless pits, but the real star of the game is being able to switch dimensions to get through walls and other obstacles. Dim should be prided on it’s ability to make you think, as it is a puzzler as much as it is a platformer.

If you’re interested in giving Dim a shot, you should be warned: it will suck you in. Even if you don’t care for the story elements, if you love platform games, then Dim has something to keep you occupied for a good, long while.

Today’s game is another student finalist from the IGF 2010...

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:21:20 -0600

Today’s game is another student finalist from the IGF 2010 Student Showcase. It’s drastically different than Puddle in such a way that water is to fire, and that’s a pretty good comparison.

You take on the role of a Tiki who must escape an erupting volcano by dodging masses of lava, jumping from platform to platform, and using the physics of your jumps and dives to try and avoid further obstacles.

The game is similar to puddle in that it is a physics based platformer, but whereas puddle is soothing and relaxing, Igneous will have your blood pumping as you try and escape from the volcano.

The game was created in a development cycle of sixteen months by four students. If you’re interested in knowing more about the project or downloading it to give it a try, check it out here. Igneous is a fun game that is good for a few minutes of adrenaline, so if you enjoy fast paced games, you’ll love Igneous.

Today’s game is best shown through video. It’s...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:18:00 -0600

Today’s game is best shown through video. It’s called Puddle, and it’s basically a physics tilt platformer in which you must bring a set amount of liquid to the end of the level. Think LocoRoco, instead of annoying music, you’ll be faced with a soothing track and several levels to traverse.

Puddle is unique because it was featured as the IGF 2010 finalist in the Student Showcase category, so it will go on to compete with the other nine finalists to determine which game will come out on top.

The unique physics game play and dangers that you’ll encounter will keep you on your toes, as you will have to get your liquid past electricity, fire, wind, and onto moving and tilting platforms. It’s an engaging experience and test of dexterity that also supports the 360 controller, so download it and give it a try today. You won’t regret it.

Puddle was developed by a team of eight guys. You can find more information about their roles in development and who they are on the main Puddle website.

GENERIC

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:39:04 -0600

Matt Hempuli really knows how to make games. I’ve already featured several of his games on Game A Day and rightfully so, while they’re usually all platforming games, they contain a unique aspect that makes them enjoyable.

G*E*N*E*R*I*C might seem like it’s going to be just another platforming game, and you might be right. You have traditional enemies that you must jump on and coins that you must collect. The main goal of each level is to collect enough coins and loot to meet the minimum requirement for that level, in the top right hand corner of the screen. Pretty.. generic, right? This is where the game turns the genre on its head.

The controls are pretty simple and standard of any indie game that you download. You have three different types of loot that you can collect and you’ll need to collect a certain number before you touch the flag to leave the level.

The unique aspect of G*E*N*E*R*I*C that makes it not so generic is the ray gun you are equipped with. It is literally a death ray, destroying anything and everything in its path. Can’t see a way to get across the map to the flag because you’ve got pesky dirt blocking your way? No worries, blast it all to pieces!

The ray emitted from the laser gun literally clears the screen in the direction it was aimed, so you have to be careful when using it. It can obliterate enemies so you can use what’s left of them to create a platform to jump from, but it can also completely clear your flag and your coins, making them impossible to collect and you’ll have to start over.

Finding the right balance in using the ray gun to reach higher places while collecting the necessary coins in order to escape the level is what really makes G*E*N*E*R*I*C one of the best platforming puzzler games Hempuli has put out so far. The graphics are crisp and the music is enjoyable, so if you want to give it a try, you can download it here.

Guardian Rock

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:14:41 -0600

Guardian Rock is the first flash game I’ve featured on Game A Day. It was really a conundrum, choosing whether or not I wanted to feature flash games. They require an internet connection to access, since you can’t download them and take them with you, but then again, it seems the world is always online, and some of the best games I’ve played in the indie scene have been flash games.

Guardian Rock is a 50 level puzzle game with a unique premise: You play the role of a very pissed off 2 ton brick that wants to rid the Aztecs temple of invading archaeologists conveniently dressed like Indiana Jones. There are no heroics on the archaeologist’s part, but some of them can be down right tricky to get to at later levels.

The graphics are clean and easy on the eyes, but the music for the game does get a bit annoying. After the third or fourth level, I had to turn it off because it was grating my nerves. Aside from shoddy music, the game play featured in Guardian Rock is pretty damned devious.

The early puzzles set you up for the mechanics of the game, which is sliding around in one direction taking out archaeologists on various platforms. Once Guardian Rock is in motion, his direction can’t be changed, so it’s important to think ahead and know where your moves will take you before you actually move.

Guardian Rock was developed by Torpedolab. The main core of the game is 50 levels of play, and if you enjoy Guardian Rock and want to support the developer, you have the option to purchase two more packs. The free game is well worth it, so if you enjoy the game, you might want to consider it. You can play Guardian Rock here.