Cryptic Sea has started up a new development journal in which fans of Gish can keep themselves updated about the sequel’s production progress (pictured above). Barely visible in the image is a 2008 release date. There’s a video posted with Edmund himself attempting to call Nintendo’s Reggie to secure a publishing deal on the Wii.
Edmund McMillen is also responsible for the character art in Braid, among other works.
The author of the Submachine series has announced a schedule for his upcoming projects on his development journal recently. All of the following games will be released before Christmas 2007, in this order:
Covert Front 2 (soonest)
two untitled platformers
DayMare Town 2
Submachine 5
StarPox is a new horizontal shooter by Lazrael, creator of Banana Nababa and Poyo. Work in progress. [Dick the Duck preview, Lazrael’s past projects]
Space Phallus will have levels that are entirely different from each other.
It’s a pretty simple affair, which uses 8-bit themed graphics and sound. The premise of the game is to save the galaxy from the marauding space penises that are threatening to destroy it. This one is coming along quite quickly (is that a pun?) so should see release in the coming months. I’ll try to post some pics and maybe a video soon.
Cheers
Charlie (author of Bullet Candy)
Charlie’s Games
Amanita Design (Samorost series) is currently working on a full-scale adventure game entitled Machinarium. The new project features hand-drawn art and backgrounds, but retains the point-and-click interface that fans of the series have grown accustomed to.
Adventure Gamers had also revealed that the world is populated by robots, and players can expect to interact with a small inventory during the course of the game.
Machinarium will be released sometime in the second half of 2008.
Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People is the latest in a series of adventure games by Grundislav about a young man and his journey around the world in search of mystery and danger. Puzzles are much easier compared to it’s predecessors though certain screen exits can be easily missed at first glance.
There’s one scene with pixelated nudity, so approach with caution.
Name: Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People
Developer: Grundislav
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB
Swedish developer Bits & Pieces Interactive brings us an innovative new twist on the paltformer genre with Fret Nice. The game can only be played with a guitar controller, requiring either a USB-to-PS2 adapter or a USB Xbox 360 guitar controller. Naturally, this will limit how many of you will be able to try it. If you have the ability to play this, however, you will be pleasantly surprised. Fret Nice is a recipient of the Best Game Concept Award at Swedish Game Awards 2007. It’s reviewer states that it is “a game with an innovative use of control, which impresses in many areas.”
The game will find you jumping to perform “air combos” that allow you to defeat the various enemies, as well as climbing, swinging, and slinging your character onto and off of various objects in the levels. In all cases gameplay feels fresh and is a lot of fun, while the nontraditional control method makes Fret Nice an innovative newcomer to the indie scene.
Name: Fret Nice
Developer: Bits & Pieces Interactive
Category: Platformer/Unconventional
Type: Freeware
Size: 28MB
Raingraph’s Ace Speeder 2 is a decent racing game with uninspiring textures and pretty standard gameplay, but simulates a speeding race track well enough to please casual fans of the genre.
Only two race tracks are accessible in this demo. Hold the space key to accelerate, and tap the same button quickly to use the boost. Swap camera view by pressing the C key. The V key can be used to turn the HUD on and off. Pause the game with the backspace or delete key.
Name: Ace Speeder 2
Developer: Raingraph
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 30MB
Direct download link: Click here
Joystiq previews Metanet Software’s N+ (pictured above), due out for the Nintendo DS soon. Hot dual screen action!
“The view for the DS game provides a zoomed-in bottom screen and a zoomed-out view of the whole level on the top screen.”
“The game will feature all new levels designed by original creators Metanet in both its Pure (based on the original Flash game) and Plus (new graphics and enemies) versions.”
Also from Joystiq, an interview with the director of the 1GB noir adventure game Fate by Numbers.
Updates
Dicewars DS (a Nintendo DS port of GameDesign’s popular dice strategy game, pictured above) updated to version 0.3.4.
Georg Rottensteiner’s Joe Gunn gets a final update, recently reviewed in RGCD. [installation instructions]
Shooters
There’s a couple of scans from Arcadia with information and screenshots about Cave’s latest horizontal shooter Deathsmiles posted in the insomnia.ac forums. [AM show information]
From Arcadia again, information and a screenshot from G.rev’s (Border Down, Under Defeat) upcoming vertical shooter Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta. Apparently the game is a collaborative effort with ex-Seibu Kaihatsu staff, the same people responsible for delivering the Raiden series. [official web site]
Soldner-X is available for preorder from Play-Asia.
Platformers
Ishi has resumed work on Tor de Force, a platformer originally developed for the four color competition held by Retro Remakes. [forum thread]
Ten new screenshots from Lexaloffle’s upcoming platformer Jasper’s Journeys (pictured below) were recently posted. [Swarm Racer]
Miscellaneous
GameTunnel’s Monthly Round-up has been replaced with a new column entitled The 60-Minute Trial.
Chocolate Castle is the latest Manifesto Games’ pick.