Category Archives: Games and Software

Indie Game Alert: A Clumsy Adventure

December 5, 2013 Kenneth Medford

Take a little running, add some well timed jumps with a dash of simple physics, and you have Excamedia’s A Clumsy Adventure. Planned as a PS Vita title, Excamedia looks to bring back some classic gaming difficulty on the go. There is definitely no attempt to reinvent the wheel here, but the simplicity is endearing.

Players will control Zack, an ex-Marine; sounds awesome, right? Well, unfortunately, Zack is the only person who thinks Zack is awesome, and his clumsiness gets him kicked out of the military. He stumbles upon this adventure and must set off to avoid various platforming pitfalls and enemies, including end level bosses.

At this point in development, the game is not a graphic marvel, but that’s not really the main focus. The gameplay is where A Clumsy Adventure will hook gamers. For the PC demo I played, the controls were very responsive, which leads me to believe speed-runs will be a major pastime. I am also very interested to see if and how the Vita’s touch capabilities will be utilized. There are definitely opportunities within the side scrolling 3D world to weave in touch functions. I envision it being somewhat like Escape Plan, but I digress.
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There are still a lot of questions to be answered here, but I think the outlook is positive. It will be interesting to see how the game carries over from this initial PC demo to the Vita universe when the time comes.

For more information and the demo, visit Excamedia’s Game Jolt profile page. If you enjoy the game, don’t forget to show your support for Excamedia and A Clumsy Adventure.

Indie Pennant

Indie Game Alert: Super Cool Kids: Dungeon Dash

December 4, 2013 RaShaun Eshalomi

Survive as long as you can. Escape is just out of reach. Rescue all the cute kittens. These are your only instructions. Who is this character? How did he get stuck in a dungeon? Why did he go into a dungeon? None of these questions will be answered and they won’t matter when the lava and water are catching up to you. Super Cool Kids: Dungeon Dash is a simple, pixel-art game, but it will provide you with hours of fun frustration (i.e. me screaming at my computer screen and jamming on the directional buttons).

You control a little boy (or maybe a man) who is trapped in a dungeon filled with pools of lava and water. To reach the exit, you must dig through dirt and rock. There are two different types of rock you must break through: a soft rock, which doesn’t take much effort to break through, and a harder, gold-speckled rock, which takes an extra two seconds to break through. Avoid the pools of lava and water; digging too close will release a flood into the path you’ve created. You will have little time to react and dig in a different direction, but if you stop it’s game over—one life, no extra chances. Every few seconds, an earthquake rattles the dungeon, which breaks up some of the dirt and rock. This can be a good thing (one less block to break) or a bad thing (lava and water have more space to flood). The farther you advance, the faster the earthquakes occur. The intervals start off every 10 seconds, then 5 seconds, then 2 seconds.

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Because each room is randomly generated, sometimes the game will spawn you in an area that immediately floods and you die. The same thing can happen to kittens and the other items. This can be annoying—especially when you’re really far into the game and have become a kitten-rescuing pro—but it doesn’t happen too often. There are also some small glitches like being able to walk on lava and water for a split second (which is more of an advantage than a problem) and sometimes a block of lava or water will flow into the exit, but it wont keep you from escaping.

This game makes me feel like a kid again: playing Gauntlet 2 for hours, moving through infinite rooms, looking for the final door to let me out. I really like this game because it is so simple—straight to the point without any unnecessary gimmicks. It may be difficult or even impossible, but I would love to see a leaderboard for the game. It would really add to the fun and challenge players to really take a risk when collecting items. I can’t wait to see more from Super Cool Kids. Play the game on the Super Cool Kids website and see for yourself.

Action, Adventure, Games and Software, Indie Pennant, Multiplayer

Indie Game Alert: Skyjacker

November 12, 2013 RaShaun Eshalomi

A couple of days ago, I stumbled upon an indie game in development, Skyjacker. The closest I’ve ever come to a space simulator is Mass Effect, so this kind of game is new to me. After reading “You play Ael, the most feared and ruthless space-pirate human,” I was instantly intrigued. The main character was abducted by aliens, raised by space pirates, and is now the lone human in this dangerous galaxy.

You are not a hero; you will have to sabotage, kidnap, rob, infiltrate and extract your way to the top. Without a linear path to follow, players can pick and choose which jobs they want to complete. Want to upgrade your ship? Salvage and use weapons, engines, and other parts from ships you hijack. Depending on the type of parts you put on your ship, you can change the way you play the game: “. . . play it like an arcade game, like a classic space game, or with full inertia and momentum.” Ship customization is a welcome change to a flight game of this type. It appears to have a lot of depth to the customization; you can see each piece of your ship, allowing you to pick and choose the parts you want to equip.

To build your crew, you will be able to choose from various A.I. or invite your friends. With the co-op feature, players will be able to work with friends to become stronger and take on riskier missions. Along with the single-player and co-op modes, there is a multiplayer mode, which will include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Last Man Standing. Skyjacker will also allow players to create their own missions (no coding knowledge necessary) using art assets and a design framework.

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Just by looking at the demo, I can tell a lot of thought has been put into this game. The universe is vibrant with colors instead of just being dark and cold. Space is littered with various asteroids and debris, and the planets stand out. The ships you encounter are well detailed and unique. You will fight against (or along side) 10 very different alien races. Each race has unique looks, abilities, technologies and histories.

If you’re looking for something different with a lot of potential, then you should back Skyjacker on its Kickstarter page. Funding ends on November 22, 2013, so you have to be quick. For more information, screenshots, and videos, checkout the Skyjacker website (download playable demo)and Eugene Zhukov’s (project lead) YouTube page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VifzGCYW3M

Game File, Games and Software, Industry Now

Am I a Bad Female Gamer?

November 10, 2013 RaShaun Eshalomi

When I was a hardcore Battlefield 3 addict (now a hardcore Battlefield 4 addict) and needed a good laugh, I would peruse the Battlefield forum. One day, I came across a female player complaining about the lack of female soldiers in multiplayer. I felt bad, not because I too wanted to play as a kick-ass female soldier, but because it never crossed my mind. I tried to justify my lack of feminism by thinking, “Well, [at that time] female soldiers are not allowed to serve in combat, so it would only make sense to not have a female soldier in multiplayer.” Yes, it is just a game, but DICE does pride itself on how realistic Battlefield is compared to other FPS’s. Besides, you can’t even see your character while playing.

Then it happened again. I stumbled upon an article about how Rockstar missed out on the opportunity to cast a female lead in GTA V. After reading the article, I again thought to myself, “Hmm, I didn’t even think about that.” Even though the author (a guy) is right—it would have been interesting to have a female main character in GTA for once—it never crossed my mind and it didn’t bother me. Why? I’m starting to think I’m just a horrible representative for female gamers. No I’m not taking scantily clad “geek” pictures or recording my boobs on twitch and flirting for a donation, but I still feel ashamed, guilty. I should be standing on a mountain top shouting, “We need more women in games!” but I’m not. I’m quietly enjoying these games as is, as long as they don’t reinforce any negative (“You should be in the kitchen blah, blah, blah”) stereotypes.

Some female gamers have a hard time connecting with the male characters they are forced to play as. Maybe I’m just used to playing as a male, so it doesn’t bother me as much. To me, playing a video game is like reading a book; as long as the story is good, I don’t care about the sex of the characters. I can still make a connection because the story intrigues me or because I sympathize with their situation. I’m reading this book or playing this game because I want to learn about the characters and their story. A female lead doesn’t create an automatic connection; it’s still someone else’s story and whether I enjoy it or not doesn’t depend on the character’s sex. It’s great to see a kick-ass female lead in video games, but it’s not the first complaint I think of if she is missing.

Character creation is becoming more popular in games. Creating my own character gives me the chance to play as a woman and create my own story. That is more satisfying to me because I can make the decisions and create my own path. No there isn’t a female lead in GTA V, but I can create one and choose whether or not I want to go skydiving with Dom or help out Lamar on one of his missions (unlike in the story).

Maybe I’m just ill-prepared to fight for women in games because of how I grew up. My sister (who is ten years older than me) introduced me to video games when I was very young. We had all the systems: NES to PlayStation 1. In middle school and high school, my two best friends (who are sisters and have no brothers) were also gamers. We spent—what had to be—thousands of hours playing GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. Female gamers were the norm for me growing up. All of the women (including my mom) in my life played video games, and we were never told they are for boys only. Though this issue existed then, I completely missed out on it and am now confused by the outcry of feminism in the gaming world.

I’m not saying I’m against having more positive female characters in gaming, far from it. I’m just saying I suck at being a feminist. Sometimes I don’t see things the same way other women see things.

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Artists Spotlight, Comics 101, Cosplay of the Week, Games and Software, Hobbyists, Industry Now, Otaku, Other, Pop Culture

GIGA Adventures: New York Comic Con 2013

October 14, 2013 J.A.Montemoiño

Crash Pad: Geek Memoirs
By: Jacques A. Montemoiño

Far beyond the level of excitement to be expected from such a thrilling event as the New York Comic Convention, is the challenge of trying to accurately express how exhilarating my time there was in “words” but I will do my best.

During my journalism phase, I’ve had the privilege of covering a few local conventions yet I had never been to a New York Comic Con or any comic book convention of this immensity and so I was anxious, nervous, and hopeful all at once. Even though I am a native New Yorker, I had not been there in many years and the idea that this monolithic convention that was happening in a place I once called home only added to the buzz and anticipation.

I flew out of Atlanta Ga. USA up to LaGuardia airport in New York, NY early arriving midday and was greeted by Ms. Jenkins a company rep holding a sign with my name. After looking over my itinerary, I settled into my NY branch office and promptly I ventured out to the 2013 New York Comic Convention via the A train; the smell of subway and the all too familiar rocking and rumblings of the train I once road as a young man, filled me with warm memories reminiscent of my youth. The murmur of the hundreds coupled with the gentle sway almost carried me off in to the sleep realms, yet I fought the urge to get comfortable, lean back, and nod off. As the downtown bound train got closer and closer to 34^th street, I began seeing more and more travelers dressed in very familiar outfits and costumes indicative of one of the geek cultures most prevalent pass-times: cosplay. I knew I was going in the right direction once Pikachu sat next me.
Off of the public transit, maneuvering through thick crowds, up the stairs and on to the busy sidewalks, I was faced with the Empire State Building and the breezy Manhattan streets. Only a handful of blocks away from the Jacob Javitz Center, where the convention was being held, the walking slowed to a snail’s pace as hundreds tried to make their way down the narrow sidewalk which was apparently under construction and had partially extended into the streets, only to be sectioned off by a temporary barrier that saved me from sharing my passage with cars. Four blocks away, then three blocks away, and then finally, two blocks away I hit “pay dirt”. Off in the distance, I saw the top of the convention center when I looked ahead and then I was completely surrounded by hundreds of Comic Con enthusiasts and cosplayers at ground level of the Center. The smell of New York franks, Shish kebabs, and Halal food filled my nostrils. “I should eat before I go in” I reckoned and proceeded to order one of each.

I turned the final corner and beheld the magnificence that summons Geeks from all over to this one location and they came out in mass.

I entered the building, and even at 6 feet 6 inches, I felt miniscule and easily lost in the enormity of the environment and the crowds of thousands upon thousands. Everywhere I looked, there were my favorite super heroes posing for pictures and some even adorable enough to stop me in my tracks, as if I were a young boy who was brand new to this Geek World.

The main show floor was packed with hundreds of exhibitors representing some of the most iconic companies that are cornerstones of our unique sub-culture. Bandai, Nintendo, Warner Brothers, Dark Horse Comics, Intel, as well as a slew of hundreds of independent companies—all privileged to share the floor with such industry giants. With the crowds almost at a standstill, I tried to get as many images as my Canon 70D could muster. Me, as an extroverted person, engaged with a solid 61% of the exhibitionists I came across and, in one weekend, I gathered cards from representatives from many of the most impressive businesses in attendance including some of the development staff for the new Batman Arkham Origins.
I even met two gentlemen from Geek Therapy that were educators and therapists who had been working on utilizing the Geek Culture as a way to help those less fortunate to better their lives. This was Geek Heaven. As a man involved with many different facets of geek culture myself, it was comforting to see that NYCC had included all of the right ingredients for a tasty stew, including a careful and masterful blend of comics, comic book artists, writers, video games, toys, educators, musicians, cosplayers, custom weapons of various notoriety, a large number of people in the film and media industries, and, oh yeah, hundreds of journalists and press outlets—all things I love and am involved with in 12 Houses Inc.

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Convention goers snapped pictures and stopped every two steps to get a peek at newly released and soon-to-be released indie titles, toys, and technology, all while being unable to “Not” seize every photo-op they could with Hollywood and internet celebrities alike. At the rate the crowds were moving, walking had been reduced to a shuffle but I didn’t mind; I had Batman on my left and Robin on my right, a stunningly beautiful Wonder Woman ahead. Random dance battles broke out between super-heroes, one group vs. another, Spider-Man vs. Deadpool, Attack on Titan and Disney characters alike took turns in the cleared center to show off their awesome yet deadly dance moves, ultimately slaying their opponents with Oppen Gangnam style. There were a number of panels where the creators and producers of almost any Geek related show you could imagine met their fan base and following. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Teen Wolf, lines stretched all the way into the food court. In my opinion, and from what I personally witnessed, I think the largest crowds I came across were clamoring for a peek at Ivy Doom Kitty and Stan Lee himself.

Other noteworthy celebrities were also in attendance but they were placed in booths on different floors with lines that stretched narrowly would be the length of a football field, but my time was limited. I couldn’t wait two hours on-line to see Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Hulk Hogan, Felicia Day, and Joel Gray. As a child of the 80’s, I was super impressed to shake Sgt. Slaughters hand and had the opportunity to let him know that aside from wrestling, I had always wanted to be Red Dog from Sgt. Slaughters Marauders.

It took all four days for me to personally visit and see every part of the Javitz Center’s various floors and sections and with what seemed to me to be tens of thousands convention-goers, I would have gotten lost had I not had an event map and truth be told, I became lost more times than I can count by memory, but I was the happiest lost person you have ever seen. I tried to stay focused on the production but it’s hard to tell a geek to abstain while he is in the midst of all his preferred vices of choice. Elation.
I’m consciously trying to “NOT” write a book on my weekend as I feel the urge to go on and on about the experience and all of its multi-faceted aspects, but I’ll exercise restraint and give you a small taste of how great the event was. Aside from the photos in this article, GIGA: Geek magazine and 12^th House Media will be sharing all images, and video content gathered by us on this grand voyage and surreal adventure.

Stay tuned all of my GIGA Geeks!

~Jacques A. Montemoiño – “THE GIGA GEEK”

More images to come!