Pretty GameCast Episode 9: Super Crate Box

This week on Pretty GameCast: Matt and Mark discuss the hyperkinectic and hyperactive Super Crate Box by Vlambeer.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 9 MP3

References

Matt forgot to write anything down this week, so leave a comment if you need a link

Next week

Minecraft (with Halloween update) by Notch. Aren’t we timely?

If you like Pretty GameCast, please leave a rating or review on iTunes! Also, if you’re a developer and would like to be on the show, or have us talk about your stuff, email Matt at mattfister at gmail.com.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 8: Under the Garden

Matt and Mark discuss Paul Greasley’s gorgeus survival game, Under The Garden.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 8 MP3

References

Minecraft, by Notch

Spelunky, by Derek Yu

Next week

Next week is the super radical Super Crate Box, by Vlambeer.

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Run! Forever! Jumpfinity! Now Free!

Run! Forever! Jumpfinity!, me and Mark’s procedurally generated platformer is now free on the app-store. Now you have no excuse not to play it. So get it!

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Pretty GameCast Episode 7: VVVVVV

On this episode of Pretty GameCast, some analysis of Terry Cavanaugh’s gravity shifting platformer VVVVVV.

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Pretty Game Episode 7 MP3

Mark hadn’t finished the game before recording the podcast, but has now and wanted to add this:

Mark here.  I just wanted to say that I finished VVVVVV.  Or that is to say, Steam allowed me to finish playing it, but that is neither here not there.  This game is amazing.  I might have been a tad hesitant in the podcast.  I was wrong.  The scrolling level was so much fun, the weird final level was awesome.  The rooms got harder in a way that was fun.  It was exactly what I’ve wanted for a time now, a simple platformer with tricky puzzle and reflex based gameplay that is not annoying.  I think the last game that itched that for me was N…I don’t play enough games!

References

Cave Story, by Pixel

Bioshock, by Irrational Games

Super Mario Galaxy, by Nintendo

Dungeon, by Cactus and Arthur “Mr Podunkian” Lee

Next episode:

Next week, we’ll be covering Under the Garden by Paul Greasley.

VVVVVV by Terry Cavanaugh

VVVVVV by Terry Cavanaugh

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Tiny Tyranny Alpha 3

Alpha 3 is done! This one has families, completely new pillaging mode, character traits, loyalty system and a fixed inventory implementation. Plus tons of small stuff! Let me know what you think, especially if anything is utterly unintuitive. Also, is it fun yet?

To run it, all you have to do is extract the zip and then run tinyTyranny.exe located in the dist folder. Keep in mind this will only work on Windows for now.

Download Tiny Tyranny Alpha 3

Tiny Tyranny Alpha 4 is in the works, but I’m still figuring out what to prioritize. Any thoughts on what we should add next?

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Pretty GameCast Episode 6: L’Abbaye des Morts and The Day

Today on the show a special double episode. First Matt and Mark talk about L’Abbaye des Morts by Locomalito and The Day by Gregory Weir, two short games. You’ll probably want to finish these before listening to the podcast, especially The Day anyway, as it’s just waiting to be spoiled.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 6 Mp3

References

Final Fantasy 8, by Square

Next Week

The next episode will cover Terry Cavanaugh’s VVVVVV.

Screenshot of L'Abbaye des Morts

L'Abbaye des Morts

The Day Screenshot

The Day

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Pretty GameCast Episode 5: Aquaria

This week the topic is Aquaria, the 2007 IGF winner, by Alec Holowka and Derek Yu. Matt and Mark continue their ongoing discussion of exploration in games as well as what can be done to make it easier to come back to a game.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 5 MP3

References

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, by Nintendo

Shadow of the Colossus, by Team Ico

Baldur’s Gate, by BioWare

Mass Effect, by BioWare

Dragon Age: Origins, by BioWare

Shining in the Darkness, by Climax Entertainment

The Fool’s Errand (this is the one Matt forgot the name of and the developer is still around!!), by Cliff Johnson

The 7th Guest (Matt called this the 13th Guest, but hey, he just read about it in magazines so it’s OK guys really), by Trilobyte

Next week

Next week we’re going to do a very special double episode covering Locomalito’s L’Abbaye des Morts and Gregory Weir’s The Day. These are both really short games and The Day can be particularly spoiled so you should definitely play it before we ruin it for you.

If you like Pretty GameCast tell a friend or write a review on iTunes. If you want to talk about the game you made or the favorite game you played, or just want to chill on Skype with us, email Matt at mattfisterASPERANDgmail.com. After the jump some more images from Aquaria.
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Tiny Tyranny Progress 10-3-10

Tiny Tyranny is still moving. There’s a lot of cleanup to be done and bugs to fix for the alpha but I’ll be ready to post it on the 15th. (I’m not around next weekend to work).

The big changes are that enemies now use weapons, the inventory system is fixed so it actually keeps track of what you have instead of just being endless buckets of swords (a cool band name by the way). Also, I got the basic trait system in place which means that I have a way to add in level-up perks and Tyrant setup, which will be one of the core areas of the next alpha.

Right now the traits add to the fun, when you’re the competent tyrant trying lead a one-eyed archer and a needy swordsman.

I also added some prisons which give you an extra chance to recapture deserters when they are crewed. The last game, all my characters were pretty busy pillaging, so I made one of the kids jailkeeper and she did a decent job keeping the attrition rate down.

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Secret Project Update

I worked on my secret project again tonight, you can see the result above. It’s just a map editor so far though, but it’s sweet and does some tricky buffering to speed up blitting. Also, sprite sheets no longer cause me to segfault so hurray!

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Pretty GameCast Episode 4: Hydorah

Matt and Mark discuss Hydorah, a horizontal shmup by Locomalito with music by Gryzor87. Spoiler alert: Matt says it’s perfect.

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Pretty GameCast Episode 4 MP3

References

Gradius III, by Konami

R-Type, by Irem and Produce

I Wanna Be The Guy: The Movie: The Game, by Michael “Kayin” O’Reilly

Super Ghouls n’ Ghosts, by Capcom

Bubble Bobble, by Taito

Super Mario 64, by Nintendo

Next week our game is Aquaria by Alec Holowka and Derek Yu.

If you like Pretty GameCast tell a friend or write a review on iTunes. If you’re and indie dev and want to talk about your game, or want to talk about a sweet indie-game, or just want to chill on Skype with us, email Matt at mattfisterASPERANDgmail.com. After the jump some more images from Hydorah.

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