Post Xmas Glut Reading

The end-of-year gaming glut has come and hopefully is done with for yet another year, but it also means that the gaming blogosphere in general has settled down and started writing about other things not related to any of the games that have come out recently or at least thoughts on these games without all the hype associated with their releases. Obviously Some Kill Giants is not part of this trend as I have a mega Left 4 Dead post coming up from our experiences with four-player co-op and unfortunately only four-player versus, which WILL be filled with hype, but I digress.

Anyway, been hitting up the ol' Google Reader and going through some of my feeds that I have neglected and I have unearthed some serious gems.

First up is a post by Jim Rossignol on rockpapershotgun on the PC gaming scene in Korea and how it has literally made the country like no other place on Earth in terms of gaming and player culture. It has always fascinated me that they have been able to take computer gaming to the next level and have it as a cultural institution in its own right. I guess the equivalent in America for example would be...uh...er...reality TV stars? Uh...yeah. Anyway, go read the article, it is quite awesome and makes me think that my mad idea to make a nationwide Nigerian gaming intranet for high-speed gaming would be a great idea!

Secondly, over on Ludus Novus, Gregory Weir talks about games that are from parallel dimensions where gaming technology evolved along different lines. I wish I lived in the one where games like Odin Sphere were the norm instead of the exception. He also provides a link to a modern Mode 7 game and coins a new term that I really, really want to see gain traction - pixelpunk. Cool eh? I am sure that you want to see it gain traction too. Let us push it out there and make more games that fit the description.

Cactus, who I have written about before on here made a list of games that he hadn't finished developing, but were playable. The ideas behind them are awesome and messed up as always. You should check out the link if you are tired of high end gaming and looking for something interesting.  The rate he comes up with and discards ideas is quite frankly oppressive!

I think that should be enough for now. Need to go finish working on that L4D multiplayer article. I can give you a text-based trailer though.

Two people die a lot and get incapacitated even more! An example is made of traditional FPS players. Two make a run for the helicopter on the roof, Niyi cries for help as a hunter gouges out his insides. About 100 litres of Boomer vomit was spilled. A witch shrieks and burns as the world goes black and white. Left 4 Dead.

Brain Damaged Toon Underworld and more Cactus Goodness

Cactus, who is one of the more prolific and recognisable indie game developers out there teamed up with Ville Krumlinde to form LoFi Minds, an independent game development outfit based in sweden and this

 

is their first game. Which is still in development, and I am sure I have talked about even if briefly on the blog before.

Looks awesome huh? Now, I don't want anyone coming on here and saying how it looks like snes graphics or whatever. You obviously need to broaden your appreciation for videogame art styles. Realistic 3D is not the only way to make a modern game look! Go have a look on their website to see more screenshots and some gameplay videos. They are also planning on making it a high definition release which is really cool. 

Cactus has made a lot of cool games such as Clean Asia, Mondo Medicals, Mondo Agency, Ad Nauseam 2, Psychosomnium and a LOT more. You can find most of them on his website. 

I find him a major inspiration in terms of what I actually would like to accomplish with the games I make, in terms of having a distinct aesthetic, and being able to put out prototypes without fear. Would probably lead to me finishing games quicker. 

Anyway, just putting his name out there for people who might be interested in trying out some indie games. All of which are free!

He also has a compilation of 17 (!) of his best games in one handy zip file which weighs in at a modest 45mb.

Enjoy!

The above image is from this thread where there are more examples of fanart inspired by Cactus' games.

xWUNG

Lo-Fi Minds just released a new flash game called xWUNG. I love the music and art style for it. Then again, I love Cactus' design. Always seems fresh and retro at the same time. Can't wait for their major game in development, Brain Damaged Toon Underworld to be done and released.