New prototype trailer for Hampa's upcoming 3D racing game, Glitchracer. Release date: Q4 2008. (contains loud music, old preview in the extended)

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Posted by timw at 8:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vector Infector is a new epilepsy-inducing arena shooter created by Oddbob. Use the cursor keys to move, and hold the Z key to shoot. Bullets and laser beams should be avoided at all costs. Destroy a cloud at the right time to activate the Brucey bonus. (use JoytoKey or Xpadder for gamepad support)

Name: Vector Infector
Developer: Oddbob
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Posted by timw at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Review by Gr.Viper

Another big mech game coming right up! It's old but still has its charm. Unlike recently picked Bootfighter, Young's Modulus should be more appealing to Battletech (or Earthsiege) fans. That is the mechs here are ugly, heavy and steer like a sleigh full of bricks. But their enormous mass means that inside there's a lot of space for fitting weapons and equipment.

The curious might learn about the plot in game's readme but basically YM boils down to destroying two-legged steel balls that spit plasma. You can either do it in Quick Combat mode or start an alien extermination campaign where you'll have to fight for many planets and manage resources such as money, metal, energy to build more mechs. Research is also required to hit the enemy with the best stuff.

Despite simple graphics and bland menus the action feels very immersive because the view bobs with mech's steps and flashes from gunshots light everything in the area while you listen to cold computer voice listing failed subsystems. And you will feel the failures: controls start acting strange, HUD and tactical radar go haywire, IR and low-light vision flicker, reactor loses output, batteries leak and rear-view camera shows black screen. Then you fall down.

To prevent this you have to learn basic teammate controls and properly arm your mechs. Good choice of weapons allows all kinds of combinations: fast unarmoured gunner with jump jets, heavily shielded stomper with missiles and flamer, invisible cloaked laser sniper etc. You decide! Although in quick combat the choice of weapons is limited to mech's tech level while in campaign you can try to fit newly developed weapons into older gear. (tip: do not use emergency power while running up hill - mech's legs are more likely to slip with throttle over 100%)

P.S. It might be hard to see where the unlock "code" goes: main screen, bottom text field.

Name: Young's Modulus
Developer: Austin Meyer
Category: Action
Type: Freeware (demo unlocks with any 6-digit code)
Size: 25MB
Direct download link: Win, Mac

Posted by timw at 1:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"Edge catching up with the fiercely independent creators of N to get their unique insight on working with Microsoft, the struggle of maintaining their artistic vision, and what it means to be indie." (source: GameSetWatch)

Interview: Metanet - Independent Minds

Posted by timw at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Debrysis is a Geometry Wars-style arena shooter which uses a combination of both keyboard and mouse for controls. The handy radar indicates the position of all enemies and power-ups on field which are out of your view, shown as red and blue arrows on screen. Your best score and weapon of choice can be submitted online after the end of each game.

Name: Debrysis
Developer: OUEO factory
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

Online high score table

Posted by timw at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Beltality is a simple one switch game with two gameplay modes, a window resize option and online high score tables. Depending on which mode is selected, your objective is either to stop people from passing through or assemble as many robots as you can without destroying them in the process. Power-up effects are acquired by allowing the alphabets to continue towards the other end of the screen safely.

Name: Beltality
Developer: OUEO factory
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB
Direct download link: Click here

Online high score table

Posted by timw at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Evolution Shmup is Petri's experimental attempt at creating the perfect vertical shooter by tracking the amount of time that a player spends on each random iteration of a new game. Every refresh creates a different result, using elements from versions of Evolution Shmup which players have spent the most time on.

Name: Evolution Shmup
Developer: Petri Purho
Category: Shooter
Type: Browser

Posted by timw at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The objective of Putty Puzzle is to shift the correct coloured blocks and rest them on marked areas in each screen, achieved by breaking up and merging blobs of putty piece by piece. Use the R key to restart and press the escape key to access the main menu at any time.

The current build consists of only six playable stages in total, and requires a Java-enabled browser to run. (screenshots)

Name: Putty Puzzle
Developer: Kevin Glass
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser

Posted by timw at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Crazy Bound 2 by CraftM is a 2D action game in the style of Within a Deep Forest, in which players have to guide a bouncing object past obstacles and dangers placed haphazardly in the underground caverns. Use the up and down arrow key to view other sections of the map, and hold the space key to center the view at all times. Wall jumps should be mastered in order to progress past the second stage. Hold the cursor key in the direction opposite of a wall to jump off it, and repeat the process in a small opening to scale upwards any surface. Red platforms will turn into the last tile you're in contact with.

Name: Crazy Bound 2
Developer: CraftM
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here

Posted by timw at 1:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Police Brutality: New game posted in Jason Rohrer's monthly column. (source: Lithium Leaf)

Morning's Wrath: Ethereal Darkness' isometric RPG now available as a free download from GameTap.

thatgamecompany: Kellee Santiago and Jenova Chen listed in Variety's "Ten Innovators to Watch Out For" feature. (article)

Danmaku Gata: Reasons behind the closure of shooter fans' number one news site translated. (source: the2bears)

Knytt Stories: Nifflas' latest 2D platformer mentioned in the local papers.

Atomhex: A review of Mark Incitti's new arena shooter.

Two-Digit Addition: GameDesign's latest release.

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Jonathan Mak's Everyday Shooter (Windows version) is now available on Steam for only $8.99, though the game will retail at $9.99 after one week. Keyboard controls are supported, but players can use a gamepad or an Xbox 360 controller as well.

For Vista users: If Everyday Shooter runs without sound, try enabling XP SP2 compatibility mode to solve the problem. Switch to 32 bit colour to make the game run faster. (gameplay videos in the extended, source: Queasy Games)

Everyday Shooter on Steam

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Posted by timw at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)