Indie Game - 2011 (Jul-Aug)

8/3/2019 Indie Game - 2011 (Jul-Aug)

1/20


2/20

Copyright , 2011 Tile Indie Game Magazine, At] Rights Reserved,All game logos."screenshots, artwork, trademarks, etc are property oftheir respective owner,


3/20

ron , dS ta tt/C r eo itsT a lb le o f ContentsB , e ' s , t I l l n d i e G a l m e s , o f E 3 'ln te rv iew w ith Dan ie l Thomas

__Vl lewsCut lancPulseT e r r a r i a ll.urneF r o z e ln S Y ' ln ,a p s e

pg 2 'pg,. .. 3 :. IP C T 4'D 'po 8D , '." :"

P -910D -P P : 12

P E 1 ' 1 4P 'o'16 1Dpg I?pg'lBpp 1 9 1D

Cover Story : Conodlon O l e v ' e l o l p e i r MinlMloStudios ls o ff It0 a qreot s to r t with 'SPA,


4/20

.eu.

Q" ,U" IB .E~ls se t w l t i : h l l n astructure made ofwhitecubes, and tasks, the player' w it h s ,o lv~n !gi ts man ly ' puz zl es .Kin,d '0 " like a p re tu er versiooo f the m achine ~n t l h , e 11!99'7' f i ' I I ' , C ~ . ,b ~ " : ,t - ~ - . .. .. ed I ' # " tbeII rn , ...u o e, smppe 011. Iefata - traps in each room Theonly aspect ot the structuret h a t w l i l l l c a t c h t h e , IP _ B y ' e r " s9'ye are the coloured cubes,and ii t is these that theymust m l a n i ip , u l l , a t , e with theirt e e : h n i i , c a , l l l y enhanced g l l o ! v e s ~Only tlh e bas ic s , of the, g l , a m e 'have been made playableth U I C ' far but there ' I ' IS o v idenceI ' . , d , : .. - " . . ' . . _ , [ '~ - '~ , , ~ , . . .. . . . . ~ 1 1 " ' : '5 k ithat the game will becomeone h , e l l l 0 " a c om p l e x puzzler,M o , s . t ly ' , t :h e ' p aye r ' w i l l i b e ,rnovinq or , e l o r t i g a t i i l n g blocksto solve p U I ' Z Z ' les but-added1 ._ 1 . :~ ,) , ' - !' __ '_ ' _ _ I r I . : . "~ j ' , .."__.,,-- ', :. .,

elements such 8J S I I ' i g h t beamand switch activators comeinto p'ay a-S,Q" One interestim - ~ ' - I I h a d t h " ' - . . - . . . , t" lt~'- - -eve __-a-_ I l , _ e I P ay,er J_-,ng ae r g s , t a b le l i n o r d e r t o , g u ii , d ,ban located inside of' itto thired ',." litequirecpositon u seemst lhat the development teamhave ,9 number ot V9'lry C O ! O _ldeas ln m~nd t a l vary U IP theqarneplay, H e l l p l i i n g l this alonis the chanq ~ngart: s : t . y ~ , e : ;whi~!eiitbasically keeps with

h " . 1 ' 1 f ." II "the prmcipats (}_I mlnlllm,B_llsm'darker levels introduce' g lo , w i i n 'g b i l locks !, and ii i SEU9mthat t h ,e per fec t , g e o m , e t r ii c :s ,ot t h l , e levels may see someco rr up tlo n ta te r on, very mu~iket l h i e end of Portal,


5/20

A . com bina non o f kijll~iingenemies coillectiing d la rnoand travers~ng lhiilgh ju mp s" d ' l th ,. 'hl f throv~. S'- --e m a Jo n~ ,' 1 0 '- - - ec ha lle nq e , a nd li t t s l nev lt athat both players wUI~bes,cr-atlch~ng thei ir heads quioft:en" Deve loper Sparpweec r ea t iv e d ir e ct o r, R l i c i h a , r d lBoeser, describes the gama s , a J ll o 'w i n g l the! players t o"surf on gr-a,viity!~,_ what a~,d,e'a!The presentat ion math e th ~n lk in g p ro ce ss a wh ,o~I,o,tmore enjoyable thOUglha s th e a rt p ro vid ed I b y KevG,e'ers Idel'ights th e eyes wan almost m:iiniima,l!i.st styleadorns, a wa t er co lo u r ra~npalette CAA P - - p uz zle rs a r- 'QI vli,l'c;;;'., - - - - v " ' v ' _ ' - _c_ L.iJ.. .,: --Q bbecoming ever popular,e sp ed ally a fte r th e re le as eP o : r t a l 2 - - - - - is 1 - 0 : 1 ' I ' l t w - : 0 - - ul,dlb - e - - - g - r - e. . . . . . . . , , - : : . - . . . . . - - . . : : : Ito see ~b,lba nd l o bb e xc el '~+ t t ~1"'1 ff rt hILS _an 1swlz,lln'g e - 0- _S W 1- ,enreleased for PSN and PC~ '. tupcoming wmter .


6/20

W e"ve a lready had a cutes,') ' co -op puzzler t l h l : : s yea r In the,form of' llom ilo bu t '0 :'ka bu- " ' 1 " 5 ' - - : - ' c ra ck ln 'g ' up ~ " O - b e c row ne d t ' ! h ,' " .. '" " y ' I ! , . . l , " ' . , ' . ' - ' . . . ' , . , . ' . " . I : : _ " ', ' I . L . ~ , 11,.., ' ~. 1 Inew kilng o f c ute , With:in an tnstant of' pllaYliln,gHand eire,us'Oka b u playe .....W : . ' " I I 'I I Io tic e th e e el- sh ad e d V " ' : - I - , e U 8 ' I I style +'h~_10_" _, . _ ,c! 'V _ _J ' ' '_'\..,i!U ,c ,'- v' _,~ . '.. '. v' .'. , I , ~ , , ' v ~"I _ue lm o st po ps '0 'u t ot the screen lt's b " l g h ~ ' it's V " ' I ' I V 'Id - ano__ ' 1 ~ , , : I _ , - , 'c : ,- _ ', :c ', '. .;; ;" II J _" I ~ , " _ , : : . , ' _ _ . , : .certa in ly has an A nim al C ross inq k ind o f fee l to lit Sm iile s aa round , then.Okabu has you play as,a pair of ever-happy clouds ca l ledKumulo and Nimlbe, 'wearing a tuque and headbandre sp ec tive ly , V ery m u ch lik e i lomil lo" th e p la ye r s wltc he sbetween the' I,wo clouds, whereas each player willi takecon tro lof a c loud durinq two p layer . The M 'O c lo ud s in te ndt o save tlhe Y o ru bo p eop le fro m a n i inv,ad'ing i n d l u s t r i a ' I ' j s tfo rce know n ,a ,sD oza T he p rob lem brouqh t by ' th,e Dozasis p ollu tio n a s t hey u tiliz e th e a dv an ta q es o f te ch no lo q yand machinery - no need to point out the obvious moralsinherent to this plot. Bein,g clouds Kumullo and Nii lmbe canabsorb water and rain onto the machinery to destroy it! asw ell a s put out fires and water plants, Later 'in the g,alme,absorbing o,ilw'jill lal low' the player to leave a trail that can bU to n fire 1 ,0 5 , 0 1 1 \ 1 ' , 9 on e p uz zle , T h e v il il iage rs a re , not ones, tomere ly sit a round a nd w alt to be r es cu ed th ou q h; they havd " I ' f fe 's r e . ' n :t ' ~ lb ' " I I ' I ' l t~ le ie , t h ' a t can b e : ut 'I I lz e d 1 ' 1 ' 0 " so t ve th e p U I zzles_ , _ : , . . ' _ . 0 ' .~ _ ,'0, ..""0._ .--, __J , . . . ; . . , . ' . , . ' ~ ' _ . . . . : _c ' - , i I . . . ' _ . - "througlho,ut th e glalm,e.T be Iplr8'yalble demo tntroouces th ep la ye r to C ap te ln M , o n lk f i ls , 1 h ~ u p o n :s,ittin,g on th e c lo ud s hea llo ws th e player to pick up ob jects with his trusty' ha rpoonp lu ng er h y brid tool", A n o th er v illa q e r known a s P ic co lo playthe , ins trumen t of his name to lure an ima ls to , c erta in s po tshelp you - eating foliaqe obstructinq the w'lay is the exampg ' I ' l v : , , :e 'In C ' - o I I I~ lc t lng th o e villa ' g e' '' r5 ' : t h r ou q hout the g ': a ' m e ' W ' " " 1 ' 1 1 1' " 1. I " ' . ' I ii i J . . , , 1 _ , ' "I , , < . . . .1 , , _ I I ., I . I : . . :access to several d i ff erent a b l ll fi ss . w l h i i , c h wlill ultimate yp ro vid e a cce ss to ' m o re c om p lex pu zzle s.Cute puzzlers are, somethlnq ' that : wi l l appeal l to a lo t o tpeopre especia lly w hen t:hey are as g o r g , e o l U l , s , as , O l lk abu~hard to, te l l h ow c :h a,le ng iin g th ls , g ame wiill ac 't: ua lly be , I b u t ,Ilooks to be worth plla'yinglfor its art style and distinct charma lone,


7/20

T h is c ha l 8'n'g'8 o f this gl:ame is . nealliisedu pon ente ring the ' w'rongl door :8 S ' theman in the: CUb '8 ~isS8'nt back to whereh,estarted, Staircas,es. and m l u U . ip , I I ,t 9doorsp ro vid e a v .a r~ je ty f 'way's ,to go ! 'wlithineach room~ Th,s ~id l@aJs . to test the player'smemory in a k ind otlabyrinthine puzzle,Re-Y ' ing s p e ' c ~ i f l c a ~ l l y on hum an memorytricks rather than those l nhabhed bycomputers is th e k ey p rin cip le b eh in d- I . . . . . - ~ - H - ' ' . ' t d - N - ' t - , -I " d . . . . . t h-' - 1 1- ' . . .. - ' 1 ' - . . '. .._e V L _ _e a _ ~ _ _'a ' , o n l _ y ; ; _ o a s 1 - _ [ e p _ 8 ,y e ' lr U lit 1s .e 'h t 1 I i o o . . ' m 0, k t IIuman me r n or y t ec n ru q u e s Illile SpSI],aa s se cia tlo n , b u t ha'v~ing the handhe ld. - - r b e - trio ----.--- --.--.--'~-. -.--.----.---.--- ~ t lh - - - . - h -" . .. ' _ ~ . : . - . ' I" I I _ _ " , . . . _ ._E . I _ . . " r : . ' , . .. ' : - . I _. I : cu -es Jrlggers muse e memory W 1 1 " I eacturn and t ll t. F ' i! n,d~ lng lhe correspondinqro om th at the a va ta r ha s. m o ve d in tob ecom es an iimlplortanl. techn i i que ~inthis

regard. Upon e X I P , e ' i r i~ , e l n e i n g I le , v , e l l H l e 'a d j lone is t e l m p t e d i to ,D Om pa r ! e it to th 8 : Rubcubs almost ! instant~y' . l in many r;eg:ards,+ - h -~ '- 'I I E- . -- . d n' g ' l t a l ~ g - e R -:u b ~ k E " I I " ' ! ! u be .'-n d ~ I ' t hI - ~ IS ~ a ~ I I : _ _ , L a c- I . ...... Iii .a ; I~I-- 81 1 - u Icompletely blown the minds of alii thosewho have p l l : a y e d lt, The 'g lenius. behindI I ' B v e I I H l e , a d l is award wi~nn~ng softweredeveloper, Julian O iver - he s'~mplly g~owi'th b i r i l i l l i a n c e ' .That willi have ' 1 , 0 do us. for the indieh - 0 - h i - I h - ' - f' - h ~ ' I E 3 b - - l \ . . .. 1 1 9 - _ 1 _ lg _ ts 0 1 _ t. _ l i S ' year s _ . . . " o u t t~elf'e'are pllenty of other ga.lmes. that wereshowcas ing an inbaresti 'ng and oftenuniiqlue design id e a " W ' hile the, rest '0, ( thiindlustry SH~U3mso be content, allbeit ratte ns e, a b o ut releasi ng l a I ru c ldoad o fs eq u els th is year, it is reassur lnq to , knothat th e ln dle scene sti il l ho lds 8 m y ria dsurpr ises w.aiting to be discovered. l , o , n gI l i v ' e 'i n In o v a t io n ~


8/20

~GM : W 'h e're 'd id th e ln ltla l ld ea fo r th eu rney o f lesir c om e fro m ?I D ' , a n : , e l l Thomas: The w h l ' o l e ' projecte rted w ith m e r ea l i l l y want lnq tO I worka n e dv en tu re g ,a ,m l a , I l lh a d a p as sio nr draw " I n " - ' - b - ' c l k " Q l r " - 'uno - at th e tim _ II.', : '_' . < " , " - : ' .'- : - - . . .. - ' I - I ' ' . : -I " - ' . ~ I" i '_ " _., . _ ' _ _ a _ _ L _ I g . a _ , _< _ O . S 8 , __ I e . . . . e ~osted ~n g a m l l e d , e v ' ~ n , e t fo rum s s ee kin qw r i t e r t o co ll abo ra te w ' i i t h : ; sorne dayster I g o t a email from M a . n : : : u l , s ,Ga~,gg

h e ' W " " , " O ' : , u I I I I ' dJ s t a r t W " " 0 : ' . . . . ! k :II In ' g ': '0 : m theI, Iv '," "', " '" lL: .11 , ' ",I I, ' II ." v" t- " , ; '"III h av en 't a s ke d Marcus"1 but I th ln lk h i'sfo r fhe c ha ra cte rs a nd s ta rtt h lle g a ,m , e 'was j u s t 'what I Iment ionedb .-v ' . - ' T lh _ .ch _-r ~ - t . -rs M '' I 'k ' _ -I I ~n d l J'- ck-Cl_!e .. __)e:-~_'-_a_6c:!,e_,:: .J___ , ' . ' ~ , a ,E L 0 __1 _ ~ , C h " ' ; : _ I ~re I ! o o k ' i l n g f O l r ' fJ r 'e e l a n c ie w o rk , a ,n , d havein C O i n _ 8 . 'C t 'w~'tlha V i k ~ n g called

IG 'M ' C ' II " t t l ' l int d l t'' . . - : ' " . ' , . ' I I I ' . " ~ , , , - I ' " 1 I' 'j' ...,,I . ".' i.,an you g i v e a , II . e li n ro UG l i onthe main story of the, Journey of10 'T : :T l h 1 8 sum m ary from Ma r ,c us (b e tte r--- I - - - - , '1d - - - - -- I b - - b ~ - t - - t - - ~ ~ I~ t l.... ~ .. ',:1 " __ t.::~, I~ '." ' . I" ,, '. .. . ~ , "1-a ln wou evere ,8 e -0 -8 II'.~e Jou rney ot les lr ta kes p la ce ln ,8n d r em l iin iis , o an t ot the m l e , d l i i e v a I I a,gies~has a story that i in t e ! Q l r ,a : t e ' s ideas as ,as the leqendary V i k . ~ n g s ; and a sodern as the hippie movemen t in the

IO'M I C' descrlb h t- - ." i, 1. -: -- . . :,-{ -- I '- : :' :' ~ 'I '-- _ - ' ' , :_ : ' - : - - :. '. ' ' , c - r - . - - ~ .: : - ' - .......~,.,an you .."escne wa, you meanb'y tlhe 1 I 1 1 ~ v ' " l n ' g e'nvirenments" you 've1 _ - _ , - - _ ,: lJ J =: i ,~ - I_ _I .: lJ !~ ! I_ - _I__ . ' - , : _ - _ l l - < ,y ..~ -creeted? 'Wt~atk lnds o t ' c h a n ! g e ' s d idyou in troduce to m ake t l h ~ : s possib le ,a nd Iho,w w ~ l ~ th'js be dl~'ftfer'e,ntrom otherA - G ~ S - - ' - ' ~ + y J e ' " 'g" a ' 1 m ' '' ' '" s ?1_1""~l~ . m " , . . ; 1 ' - ' " , :

D T i A ~ , e s n a rtis t II t - I ' r y - ~ " c to put " O " - ' I ( " ! l , U ' rs o - , n. ',.:J U. '1:;1 - !L I -.' ~,I - W I l ...! ! ' 11 Ie nv Ir o n rnent effects. II do n ~t :th ink, 'i t I, Stotally u n iiq u lle . . w~th I O U l r f a , d i i n g l ~ ~ g l h tb d l t rti I~ ~ - t f f': C " . . ' . ' 0 . . .. . . _ , . - = - . . .=:. . - I .=: 1 . . , . . . = -" - .=c...... '= , . - .- . , .. . .. - : . - ,- , '= - ; ' 1 ' . ._ '6 ', a ,m s " . u . s ~ ] a _ _ I , c , e s , ~ g , o w _n !g s U l I _ ~ , i8 Bu~:itIt=: ,= nice tou ch ~ I O ~ Itl t r y . .= - ndJ rn a k e_!I _ sa C 0 ____ ll, a_ __ a . _ etb e b ! B c l k ! g r o l u n d , s , come a_~veand be[ less, static , We l!r e q u ic k with s,u'gges.tinany ,e ffe cts , t.o th e, e nv iro nm e nt a s, s ooas w ' e ' s e e o n e and o u r coder, R y a , n ,h a .r s c o d e d f u n c t io n s for..A ' i G ~ ' S - , -h a t ' 8 " lo. ' : 1 ,. 1 I. 1 1 1 1 ' I i ~ t 1 . . . 1 1 1 1 ' 1 . , . . . . . ' , ' . m . Ul S ea,siilly tO i ad d t he ' e ,f fe 'c ts a nd ad justhem to fit a ny b ae kq ro un dI IGIM: :W I h I B , t : can the, p layer expect inte rms ' D ' = -f' l/O=,m I" , ~ I ' Pp: ' ! I r 'n!,~1 ch t 19;1 p U7'~ ~~s 'n!1 iii:II . .... :]. "U!I a.c 1 _ vau__v ..... _~~_v 01 _

' in t , e r . a , c t i io , n i in tn e g , a , m l a ' (le, ~ s ' t lh l e ' g , a ,mm ore puzzle - o r d i i a l l o ! Q l u e , , , , d l r - v , e n ? ) , ?D T: LtJ:gic l E v ie ry th i 1n! 9s ho uld m a ke" t - h f- f th lde ' n S l e lin _ " ' e ' r a m i e ! o _ " ' I e g am l e ' 'w ! o r "lf there is somefhinq t.hat W'18 don'tthiink. is , understood by the, player we,rn "ake sure that " , t ~ ' s ~exp la ined so he ca, .,y. II.' IL 1 " " , _ . . . . . " " 0;;;,. !Ii;Jm ake the logica ll connect ion t lO so lveI ' P : : - ' - U - Z " Z ' I I I Q S in I ' C - glt's 'a - f: an tasy "W - o rld th er. .. .. .. _ - , I !; J. . -v W - " . ' r I I Lit;!l. . . . .. .'. L I l l . I.are a ~ l w , " a ~ y ' s - " h - I I ' n - - " g ' - 's w , , , e : - , do'n - ~ t " k now suc. - " ' . - I ', - . ' -., - - . ' " - , _ . " ' ' , ' , , _ I _ _ _ " , _ , . ' ' _ _ . ' ' . . . _ _ ' . ' _ _ _ '. ' _ '_ ' ~ , - , . ' _ . .as how ~ h "a t world works S ' O ' - " ' I ' , f f ' reculres_~ _ J-,.:~ IL _ J : . ! l , _ > I . _ I _ , _ > ! _ _ ~ ' , -!. _ ! l . _ ~ ' ; . : : ' - ' , 's om e e xp la na tion for th e p la ye r;


9/20

10M: H,9V'18 you worked en otherm l iB s before, t h i i s one?I D 'T ::A d v en tu re 'g ames " but nothinqsadly II have been involvedP ic aro on ~Ma p 'o ,c o M o u n ta ind a n o t h e r called 'Pennyless' 1 1 m' 1 " . . , . : 1 'l'I,.~. ':-',". I~, I',~C '1 ' " .'" ">:-,,: i 1 1 1 1of those ~was , o o n t r i i b , u t i i n g as ,9ro U Indl arfst.ese have b a l a i n myfree-timebut [I have been w O l r k J n g l a:s,aee lancer on a ,eQUIP's o f other ,games" ,mostly smalier projects ~ i i k e iP ihlon,el ,e s , .IM y larqest and latest gig 'wa,sa I H O G Iidden object , g a m , e ] 1 ' Q , B l m e that shouldreleased a _ n y 1 ~ m l e now,

10M: W'hat are the, b , l i , g g e s t InfrluentC;esthe Journey o f leslr's story art,~ g a m l , e IP ~ a , y 'style?ID'l:: N o ooub t the , I Lu ca sA rts a dve nn ne'We often refer back lo CurseM i o n k e y island wlh,en discussinqatures and ! g a m l e d e s . i i g l n w~tlh theBut we a b s o ! ~ ' U l t e ll y take influences" - . - - - I I I I d - - - .- t ---- .--"-- -- ."-- h - - - - -om a a" venture ,games, WfiS II a,VBboth new and old. For theof d ~ , a , l l ! o , gI t h i i n k this b l i i g l ~ g e ' , s tfluence would be a mix ot Dlscworldthe, M o n k , e y ls land ' g a m l e s , . B,utIm SU Ir'8 Dave, our w'r~ter, has morelu en ce s w he n h e's w riit ln 'g tlh "edlalog.~GM: W ' h e ! n w ~ 1 1 Ichapter '1be releasedh r J W many chapters do you plan toID'l :: R i l ~ g l h t now w'el'r,e w ' o r k . i i n g l on our

tO I fin ish a p~tc,h demo, As , it 's' fr 'e,e...ime project, i i t " s ~ m p o l s s i 'b , lle , ' t ow hen I't:rniqht b e d one, ~fwe , wou lde ab le to work on tlhi':s p ro ie c t ' f'u llt ime,wouldn't thlnk ii t w ou ld ' t a k e ma,ny'l o 'i n t h s to f i n i s h ' C h a p t : ' e r ' 1 , .~G"M W:'h ~ Ik ' ttl. . '. .' " . ' . . I ", I.~:'.___:.':..:,'... "1 ' ',' . ' _ :' '. , ' . . " ' , .. ! . . . . . . . . 1. i 10 e , s .a ~,Swaring on ,18

- , - , ' ~ - ' - ' t : ' t : t :l h ~ ' -' - :- .-. . . . - . - . - ,- - t , , ? -iOjSc" ,8" .- l. s m l o m , e n , , ~ '

D 'T: 0 " If t ~ R T " th: : . . .ur current team is: .-,yan - - ll m o ' :- y ,. ' = - U I r " - p . . . _ .= . ' - " r - : : :m - - ' m " " " : : ' r ~ N ' - ko ' . - ' ." " . s ' ' I ' ~ d ~ = '- - - ' I " " 1 '1 " ' ' ' ' ' -'O.=.!I 1~!rIQig.,8 .. _ , e _ , .::,_,a:5 . ~ L _ , e n s _ , 1 5' t a k i n g care of a , 1 1audio: Dave Seaman" t d I I d ~ t d rres our eta og anc script an- ISworkinq on puzzles: Simon E.lltz, ournew animator, works on th e characterani im,a, [ons; and me, artist and pro lec tmanage~ . .And 'w"'e~hadIsome people come ' 8 ' nd g ' : ' O ' ' ' '. . . . ' " " ~ I . . . . '. -everybodyThe most important thing I think ist . o , ma.k,e , a gam'E! t h a t y 'o u 'w 'o ud e n,, ~'op h : 3 ' y i n ' Q yourse, f~

...Intervi!s'w b,y ,D !av id B : .r ugg


10/20

,dlldl yo,u start, Idlev'ellop,ing' W h l a t : got yOlul ' int :oand des,i'gni'ng'?'Hums: l have been p l a ' y ' i l n gpretty much non stop since IIas 1 ,0 1 {26, y ea rs a go .,) II have al 'waysw')lrk'ing toward the oreem ot, games of my own since then,y ' official game, development careerw h i l e II was lin university wb,en9 1 0 1 .a lu c , k y break 9,ett ing a part t imeb at a development studio named

B O i : X 'Games in Vancouver. Toet my foot in the door, I worked ase , com pa ny 's IT department, Af tera t th - - - - - - - t l~. t - - - Q ' ' ' ' A ' L - - d. - ". " 1 " ' " . ' . ' re . " r' I . , " , ' . . , . . . . . "1.a,,,. ere was a sin a . s , a , B'a. ,I scrlpter, , g a l m e p l a y ' proqrarnrner , ailed com pany , then I joined a new A A Aud io (Rad ica l) ,~ 'w o rk ed fo r m any yearsa Technical desiqner ; and now I a imof M in M ax , g la lm e :s . The variety o fxperience has helped a' lo t in the l o n g '" ~ . 'i;J' .;v 'I .. . :: " ci- _ ci '. '. ,", .. .v' ,..,~

Cliffor,dl: l'vs been 1 8 bl t of aJ un kie e ve r since, I w as ab le t old sn Ata l1 i controller in my hands, Ient a lot of my high school yearsk in l, g maps, ' fo r Quake and St:ar1craftth,an d 'o ii ng l Imy h o m e ,w ' o rk .. , IQ l u tf h ig h s c h ,o o l Iw'an t t . o a ga,mle d l e s i i ' g n

school. I F , Q l ll o l w ' ii n g l that, ~landed rnyse l ta,job at a AM sfudio where ~stayed fornear ly 5 years, After II left that jo b W !Bbe " - " g ' -an -w - rorkln 'g ' on ' S ' I P A 'Z'~ " = " . . ' _ ' . . . . . . . :: : . , ' : I I . . . . . . F\ ,.Wlh,a t i i, sy O l l u r fa vo rl it ,e r e tr o g l s m l e , ?Wlh ,a t gam ,e d l , o yOIU rem em ber fromy O l u r c,h i idh lo,od tlhat lnsplred y O l l u tomake Q l a m l e , s ?AH: W ' e l ll it ii s sad that t h i s counts asretro, but it has b e e n over 1 1 0 1 y , e a l r s . ,ID'Bus E :x is , m y , a l l I I tilm,e favouri te qarnef ' 1 1 1 1 '" " d I ' '. " ' . b ' " s : -- : 't r c " :' - ' " ' . t " 1 2 - " T h ': ' , ~. , ,_. '1: ,-, . ". ,.,: " : " '. i ' 'I ",' ." .a owe. C OSS Y . y,I8onro .~~ em ost lm porta nt e lem ent fo r me iin a. , 'T lh flqame I I ,S tmmers ion , r tese two ' Q , B l m , e sconsumed m ly mind S iO comp e t , e ' l y ' thatI J I t ' f I ~ th I' 1 9 _ ' ,a s I L ' ~ wa s ~n_;:_e g,a mI6' a s _W'BSP I = - y < i i n ! g - t h . . sm . Vent te w gr ames havea . . . _~ _: _ ' . . e _ _ __ . !~ ~_ _ ____e ~_._ewhat IIwould ca~~ J SOUl : , and these daysw~th t : h e hugle dev team s, IIdon' t hinkany really do . But t h e s e older ! g a m l i 9 Sdid" They had an idea and executedI o n it perfectly and without compromise,Back then ~twas ok ii f your g , 8 1 m e didnot skew toward t h e , most g e n e ' l r a l laud ience . li n both cases it w a s obvioust I h E ~ t i : the dev team loved 'w ha t .he;y Wf~rerna klnp a nd k new i t was , special. W,B tryto ' reach for the - -m- g - I - - I I with SpAZ- _e'al,~ 0. !L~e' sal__-.e~o'a__._~_ 1 - _ ' ~ .-M~"IRe:: T ha fs , a tio uig h q l u e ' s t i i o ! n t.o answer . ,I B , a , c k in t.h e d l , 8 ' y II pla,y,ed e : v e ' r y t l h i i n g from

Mar~ ,o to Doorn, [I think ' the qame thatrea l i l l y showed me h ow deep a, Igam,ecan really bewould have, tiD be S i i lm C , iI w a s tOlta~y blown away that a ' g . B l m ec a n make y ' l o u think so : s . t J r a t e ' g l i l c a l l l y ~W ' 'h ' a ' ' t ' ' '~ y o " 'u , c a vo r ' I ' t ' A g a m ;f t 0 " " a l1 ll__ I_::~ . S, _J - I l i_ : _ _ '_ 'l .~ ,'~ ,~_ ' __I~ ' .. 1_t i ime'? W l h y Is itY 'OUF" -avo,rlte'?A,H: Deus Ex. , lmrnersion, amazinqS ~ ' I O ! r y - '. ' : :e v is . .' I ' l t - ~ I ~ l n 'g : ' 0 ' ' I- I .d - l o c . .' a .t . .o m s ' S ' " trate ' g ' : ' II ! , _ . . . :1:'- _~ 1 ,:,0 ." ~ . .:_ '_ _ 1_':1 ~',II :._lIL~ , < . . -'permanen t player u l p i g l r a d , e s ' l l multipleth t hi b' t dl'.... ... ' II ,: " .": ", . .~ '. ,:~ I , I:~ ,. ", ' . :,:~".. ...~.'. :,::" ." ' , ' "pa ,80 ac neve or jeCIVeS" rewar Ilne x . . p: l o ' r " a "io n l t pretty.. r n u c . - Ih h ad I. _." . ". ,'. Iii . _" ,l.' .. . .e v ' , e ry th ii n ig ~ ~ have played i t s e v e n t~now, a n d II a im n o t one t o r e p la y g l , a m e

- f t . - - T - ' h - - - - - _ . - - ~ ' . - st _. - - h - ' - - - - - ~ , - t- ' . . . . , . . . . I 1 " . ' I 1 . . , . . . ' . ' -o.,en~ . ere w ,asJ us . .s ue: '1 a VEtrll,e,y'in play I d e p e n d i i n , g I O ' l n the choices youm a d e ~ n Id e , v e . lo p , n !g you r character .R e : Another touqhls. 1 1 ' 1 1 1have to crowDiablo 2 " l've put s o m IU ch ' t " 1 m "e ' 1 ' 1 n t 0I . ' 0 . . . ~ .! . .. .. . , ".1.::, '_ ~,,~, I,' .... _.: ." 1_ 1 1 ' _ I _ ' ~ .that g a i m e , and I constantly come bact . O I lt a,nnual l ly~ The Ipae:ingl is ,9,0 fastand there is SID much content. They. - - - - d - - - ~ ' - - '" . - - t -b - - -t - - - . - - t - h ~_- ., : _ ' , " ' , ' , . ' . , ' , - . , ' : ' . ' 1 1 ' ,.,,.1 , ...ran om llZ 8 j lUS a. O Ui ..every - l ing"ln c l u d ! - n l , g all t he , l eve s and d u n g e o , n : s , . ,'T h a t a lo n e k e e p s the I g a m ! e somewhati i n t , e r e s t ' i n ! g despite ha'vingl f i n ~ s l h , e d it : ,Ibilillion times.


11/20

,t ls 'y 'o ur fa v 'o ri 't ,e i nld i, e g l B l m e 'Inow?' Wlhy?I am p , ~ a ' y ' i n l g R , i O g I U i@ Survivor onnd off riglht now. ~tis a.zombie survival

l19 'w ~ - I h lno ' real endlnq. Ag,a in ill: lsll about etmosphere/lmmersion. 'The,me doesn't l I " "O ' ~ I I \ i 'tetl you that ' : Y " ' : ' n { U - 1 . I I I : . . . : . ll;JoOJi ~,II ~'I:A. " _. '-. . ~. : ... '. . .. ' _. ,~V ..d t - d * I h ' t f- t' ( ) , = _ ,o ,a ,n 'y ~ :_ I_ lln ,g , ex .' oe p < 1__ g u l r i9 OIIUI at o , s U l r v ~ 'v e , .Right: n,o 'w l 'rn ha.viing a l l o t , o f fu nSanctum, l'm a b 'ig l sucker fo rwer defence qarnes. They ' h,8V',B some, o r l i g l i l n a ' creeps that d,ety m y IBorg

, g r ~ d layouts. They find a goo,d m ixtw- - 1 f t ' - d - - t l h d - t ---- --- . -. " . -, '- - '. __ '-. --.~ I . .. . - . '~' .. '. I ' " . ' . 'is een rxe pat I, an maze towerQ I , a m e ' p l , B ' Y .

Bei'ngl an iindl~,edeveloper isfreedom and fea r, Y ou :get to !i l ll d what you want, a n d l creatively ~tideal. The fear comes in when ' y ' , a u led to, pay the biills and are not 1'0,0%that there are other people out--.-.-. - " ' t ' - I h 'tb - -.-- .-.;fl,,- -- t -- '! -- -- ,-. --.- ,- -. -.-.ere' w - u e s,ame'~aSl,eUl 'g am ,e s a s,_ , h a ._ T h ~ - ~ . - ~ - ._ . _ ~ f ': t _ _ ._ . , B ., V 'e . . _ _ lare IS I n o ' s , a , . l e ' y n ile ' ' .--,th'e most 'part lndle g'a'me"-' ' -e -m'. 1 _ : : : : : ' - ~ I_ , . : _ - . _ _ 1_ ; . _ _ 1_ : - = ~- , , ~ _1 _ _ ~~S 5' - :18 ,1__ _Ib e labours of' love instead of'wiithl the st.rilct 9 , 0 , a , 1 1 of maklnqmost mo,n'ey b ' y ' c,a,stiin'g the' l i d t I'e,s I ne i

The indle t ~ t l l e also seems tog l ie t t l in g l a I b l i t g r e : ' y these days, W , ea l l o t ot SIO c a l l 1 l , e d l l n d l l i , e galm'Bs now'at ere ciose to AM production valae.' ~ m - e s ~ ' I ' k e - ' S-"h~do-"w Complex an d~ _ - rl ' - c- L~--'_ Jy>~,_ ; .,v ' __ _ I _ v ' A , u , I _ - _ I ' _have I h l i i g l h lIbudglets B , n d l larglem . s , ' o o m p , a r - e1 d t 'o gamles ~~keA.qua~ia,C 'lr a.she'r s~ ,and S ,PAZ . , W,e uS9dlt lh i in lk be, 'ing , a n I ln , d i, e d l ,e ' v 'l e lo p , e r W'88o n S j , a v i in 'g s B . n d l workIngl o u t o fb ,a :s em le nt o n ,e I , d r - e 8 I m " I t 's . a l lmlo :st

t l h i e ' l r e er ,e '~~;indi ie , '~S l m , e s " enid t : h e ' nCii r - . c a ' l - r -Q"., - d ' ! , Q"I n d I', C!Ii" g - a l - m a S - W ' Co "" h ! I - n k~'~' .~' .' w . I' ' W i ' ' - I I ~ " . , . I~ l ...'e falll ~nt,o tlh ie s ,e ,o ondl,c ate go ry , W ,ed~,d, e v e r y t , h ~ n l ! g o l u r s e l l v e s . ,andput ev'ery th:n!g on t l h l , e I l iine fo,r t l h i i s

' g a m l i9'.DW m , an 'y I pe op lle c omp ril.s ,e , MinMax?low dlid the 5t,lud 0 get fo, rm ,e, dl' ?+R.C : M I []nM a ,x is j lU l s t this two ofWe, b io th 'w ork e,d t O i g e - t l h , e r for e

tim,e a t : R . a d l c a I II E n t . 'e l r t a l i n lm e n tter 2 , c ) o m p " a , n y m lle r g e r s a n d ! aart lb re,sk ing !can ice li ll at i' !o ln i fo ,~ow~ng 2

years of development, we h ad to ' l ea ve ,After that, we didn't r e 1 a l i l y want 1 .0 goright back into another hug,e studioenvironment, We took the risk and tried't o do s O l m e t h i ln g l completely on o u r o w n ,IN ,ow he re we are.W lh , e n dild you s t a r t wonk en SPAZ,1Personally,~the game reminds meo f S ta rs ca ,!p ,e a nd one o, f my f a vO l r i i t eQ l a l m e s of all t . i'm,e: S'tarCon'tr ,o l l2. W h e ' l r, e did 'Y'ou get the ide,allnsplratlen fer 'Ih,egam'e?AH+RC: We started w , or k in lg ' Io n SPAZ,23 m onths ,a go, shortly a fte r w 'e left our" - - - . . I i P . ' bsrea J O . .s~S . c t - - . . ". ..p. . - .; t - . - ' . . ' ' I " d e f - . : 4 1 , . ' 1 - ' ' - ' h - I . ' . - , . a l v o n r O I S - I ' 5 1 1 I n h . 8 I Y 1 8 iu,gelnspiratlon fo r us. Wlhen we startedw 'o rj kin g, o n th e pro tect , makiing a h u g l , espace gam:e 'W,8S a,no, brainer forus" We hadn't seen ,8 game like StarControl fo r , ag '6 :8 1 , and w , e were tired o fw a i ~ t i n l g for one to' come around. Wehoped that th o 'e're w B r - . a onhers O ' I U l t, t h e r e'_ '! iiJ. . I . . u;-. ~ ~' .. I'u ......" IVI .'that fe llt t he same ' w a , Y t so w'e laeganrnak inq the game of' ou r dreams,Tell us about SP;AZ~ What 'is yo,urfavorite moment 0_ - feat,ure?A --H' -I 1 I ! " 9 ' - a l - I - l l y 'I ' I I - k e -a ' - 1 - 1 t'-he"choices a n d; I] , ,: .f .: :~ ' ,' .. I : ~' _ ._ . 'I ~- > ,, 7 : -- ~ ~" . ~ _ " '_ ''the temptation to be el l little evil. Since,evelry choice ha s some consequencein SPAZ, usually faction relation wise,it C - E r n be , 8 lot o f f u n t o manipulatethe game systems to ge~t.unusualoutcomes. For example, takin'Q anescort mission just to le t the escorteds i h i l P d ie to g " 9 1 : 'its blluepriints is , ape rsona l favourite, A lot ot times S P A Z ,will i p , r . e s e , n t you with ,2 J roadblock", a n , d f' th e f un iis in fligluriing ou t how th,s hell tog et a ro un d it So'm,et imes it ma'y be abribel, or to I bac:k off and research new'technology" or to buildl a. c loa.ked fleet,to pick o,ff d e f e n d l e r . s , or to s im p ll l ' y 'g oaround th e Iio ng w , a y . The options a rer e, al ly w 'ha .t ' i l : Ls alii ,~b out for m 'e"R e , : : ' T h e v is c e ra ll c :: o m i ib ,a t t a k e " s < t h ecake for m e., I H a v , i l n , g the sh 'j ps fa' il ap ,a ,r tw h i i l le I !i i t t l le s p a c e dudes I g e t : su ck ed o 'u tint.o space and curl up just I'oaks so 'aweso,m,e" 'The spherica~shoekwav'es~m,assive wrecks:p. cascading expl 'os iolns. ,it's, like a 'fiin:~'works, d l i s p , l a , y . ,Why did 'you ,c lh cH lse 't ,o r ele ,a se theg a l m e f:or PC?

tried tO I make a qarne for people ~~keuThere is somefhinq about t lh ie mousieand keyboard that makes a g l 8 . m l e likethiis work so ! 'weill. Wfj botlh also hadsome hobby I s ' v ' l e experience 'w~tlh'Torq ue on the P iC (tlh,e game , e n , ' g in , e wused]

I" y "ou had more time,/m,one'y whatw,oull,dl YO 'U I C h I 4 l , l n g l , e . ab out ,SIP A Z '?A,H'+IRC: I n t e ' l r , e 8 t ~ n g l y enouqh, wew o u ld n ' t c ' - h a ' n g ' - e '" ' U I co . - h ' ~ W : I ' I ~ ' h a g '- a ' m e. " ' e -. ' . .~ _ ~ : _ : _ _ I I , ~ _ - , - : I . - ~ , - = , : : = _ 1 1 I I _ : _[like S P A Z , there is a lways room for mcontent , b l u ' t w , e ' r , e very hap py with 'whw'e produced,

A . H ' + I R C : : : Ma k j n'Q time estmates fo r thpro lec t, We lntenoed to be work 'in ',g IoSPAZ for' less then 6 months, 'We jusreleased o u r beta less then a monthago after 2, 3 months ot deve lopment,What has been Y'OUF'b i igg,es: ts u c c ' e "~:S,?.- ',' -.a.-.l.A . H ' + I R C : : Our b , i g l g e : s , t success wass t : i i , c l k l l n ' Q 'w~ th ,SPAZ , for a lm ost 2 y'e,arswU:h no income an d g l e t , t ~ l n , g it intoPa o " ple -, hend - ~ t " ' e ,b e" - " n - iF,- nst - nt' .' . ; ._c iS _ " _ 0 _ _ ' _ s ~ 1 6 _ - " ~ e _ _ , 8 ' vO J~- ~ . ; B , _ - _S t , Ir ' U ! g - : - ' , = - : wiit h t'h ~C' " fl ~g -ht or fig = 'ht'____e ____ ,__e __1 _ _ _ _ _ ra " _Iresponse a m i d ' w e ' ~ l r , e p r , o u d l we e n d u l r e dthe i I i o n ' g ro,ad"What one [ p , i ie c e , Q l f' a,dlvic,ew"Dulld 'yog iv 'e t o as ,p iir ii ng i nl, dl ie ! , dle v' ,e 'l, oper s, ?


12/20

pace Pirates and Zombies ( S ; P A Z )M~nMax.Studios flrst t : i i t e and haseen 'in development for neany 2 , y , e a l r s .has o l l d schoo t s e n . s i i lb ~ l li it i ie s , ' w i i the at m od ern ! g l r , 8 I p h i ( ! : s . T he ~ gam,eR . P " G elements, spacembat, arcade action, and s , t r a t , e I Q ' Yo an' C o p " ic.space o p . , . Cr a " S - - - - : - < A . '7 w " 1 1 1 1c 'w _:.w , "_ .... .:'ik~i " . I! I; ;~ n " . iI .: - ML : 1ck hours and day 's out of 'y'oulr ~iife,on't be fooled by the title there is anI II, i";" I > .~".. _/ 11";", It . I~:, I ~ "6 -:" Ideep and rich g l a lm , e herecaters t : IO hardcore P iC g l , 9 lm e r s iOiut

"piA. 'z ' ff - k .._ . 1- _.- fa - - II .. h .'__* 'h ._- M _ ' ~,a_ '~ les i_ace Jar e n ' o u g l , _ I,n 1 1 . _ _ 9ture that Earth has been polluted andmans have colonized the I g , a . l l , a x . y ~g a l l , a , x y is randomly and u l n ~ q u e l l yat ' t l h e start of a gl,ame, butu start the campaign in the Sol

' Y O I U I play as a ra'gtag grolup otP ira tes wlhoi want to become richI I. t th f th'1 . rave I l ln g : ' o [ : - Ie co re ot ':-['e ~ga ,axynd ,seo~ingl som e RIEZ ,(9 valuebleou rce ~ nd curre ncy) to become~' V , __v -: i . . _ - , - _ ~ -o w _'~J,Cjl.~i U !> C v _ , , ~~oUlr b ,a nd o f w i i: $ . .e'c I r 8 c , k mng mis'fItsas managed ' to 'scrap toqether aSIO that they c a i n warptw t t d tar t t ' - h iIe _ , e , e n S _ 8 ,r systems a n c start tnen

1 U 1 1 8 S t . ,

2

T h e g l a m , e p , l l a y l i n , S ; P A Z , is lncredlbly- - ' ~ . -h . , - d a d d ~ - t " ' - . -, ' S " ' I P ' A ' _ - ~ ' - - . torilli" !i:Ji In 'I ' a - ' : ' " I C 'I -IIv ''_-C, '. . . _-~. '. I I 'S ' ' 8 . - O ' P 'I ' 1I ", ; i! ' [ it;l I : . . I. , . - -.~ " ', .__. ' ,." .". "., '. .down space shooter, you control the'I M 1 o t : h , e r s h ' i I P "S fteet of s h ' i I P S , tO I collectresources complete missions, anddestroy enemies. This t . y p l e o f' actongamllep,~,a,y'has been a ro un d siin ceAsteroids but S,P1\Zadds lavers ofst.ratlegy and R . P ' I G elements tOI create ,8whole different flavor, 'The player is f ' u l i l l yr e s p o n s ib le f o r d e : s ,~ ,g n i i n lg a n d b u i L d l n g l, e v , e J r Y ship, in your fl,eet.~ Players w i l i l lc bo os e th ,e hu~ll~weapors , and m1odule 's1 0 " their sblps and send t l h e m i i n t o lbat t le . IB y , d e s t f o Y ~ l n g o th er s hip s" youwi ll i acqu ire new hUl~I~lueprints andresearch data, This research datacan be used to upqrade and acquirenew ship components t O I use iin yourdesiqns.W i it h hundreds of stars t : IO explore, ,SPAZc a n tend ' t o f e , e l a U l tt l s ' g r i n , d l i n g a n dt ime - consu rn i n g = I. E , v , - : n t u l , - . I l y ' ' . - - ,= ,U J , " , nt -= r_ _ _ c , _ _ _ _ ___ _ - : _ _ _ e _ _ 8__ .0 , e _ _ ,e _a _I ytbm where you enter a new StarSy."sl 'em p l a y . ' . 's 'few m ~ s s i i O l n l S that w~II_- , __ -, - ._- -" _ '" _ -, - _ ," - - , -improve your re~ar'ons,w~th one ' ' lac: io nor another a nd then attack o r b !r~ b ehew'aJIP 9 1 , 8 , t e ' g U B l r d s to p ro ce ed on ~ O thenext star, M y onlly complaint about theg am lle 's ric h g a , m s ' p l l , a ' Y ' i is,that you have

T h e- 'n i l f ' . a ~ ' p , h : : -1 ~ I C : : : - i ~ 'in g ' : p : J \ Z , , e re e x ce lle nt_I 1_ c ~~"_ 1 _ . ~ _ _ _ l . . - ._ _ __ .- '_ M , , _ - , . . -':_,V a _ _ [E . - v e r y ' star system locstion h as, a g r e , alevelof detail wi ith f an tas t ic I O l o l k i in l ! g'. s bu ls ." -. , 1 - 1 rds . '. d - debris ' O ' - " 'f - - - : . ' _ - ', ' .' ' - " : - .n e _ U a s " C QU " S . , a n , . : 0 6c n s _ _ . o o u r s ea !g am ,e ' i i k e th is a II I com es, down 'to t l hexplosions and combat, There are too f different ships and fantasflc weapon" H - - ' ts T h : ' " - b ' ttle OJ. S- :p~~ 'Z '. I~" ,"~ '." ",- ~. '. -., .~., . . ". _. ' -.e ec s~ I'e s,pa c,e . ,a, 88 n '.',' .C aon a smeller scale, but they do rivalindle h i i t ~ 1Gratuitous Space I B , a t , t as,' The , r ea t ime nature of th e battlesalso br~n,gsa g l r e a t level of excitement.There 's n o t : h i l n , g ~iilkeg l e t f n ! g al i i o f y l o u rsh~ps destroyeo 'Din,'\} to r e,d esign , a,ndrebuild them to crush your enemies,'The, explos ions won't I l e t you downeither. lt is immensely saIiis,fy'iingl to sh~ "tt~ " t did "1 S ~pJIB', ison 11.,8'Cf" iBW' an exPi0 '8 mb ' f - 'R ' d o 1 - ~ II ' lb.' . - ' ' . _ - , . - ' . . ~ . . . .. ' . . . ' . " 1 .' ' ~ " , - - ' . ' . .. . ' ~ " . I ' . ' ,, ~ ,Its 0,I :ez, an other co' ecti ..es.


13/20

music andl sound in S IP A Z h a s theh ig lh q l ua ft y production values, ase rest ot the packaqe. , A I I I I, o ' f the soundfects a ndl m u sic a re ' h~,gh quality if amewhat standard fare, Wha,t gl~ves,some 0!f']5 character thouglh ise excel lent radio chatter that y ou w~11ar durinq ,g,almeplay~ Some favoritesud e , '~ c A~n y onenow of ,8 goo,dl str ipI n e e d a j o b " a n d l i ! i , ~ w o n d ~r'" ' If - y 'o ' "I U r'" . ' . ' , ~ 'W~'" _ I ', . ~ ..... " w II ......... ... IIexplode iin space?" 'Thisls subtle a nd a dd s, som e glrEH3tmor and charac '81 ' " tOi an otherwise

~ IcaI '5 - pac e ope -r-~s 0 - und * ' I I ' " ' a - : - ' 'C - k: . ' . ! l Ir . .J .c > : ._ ' .' ~ .' . _ ~ ) ,,!~ tC t .. :. 1. -: __ , _ 1 . , 1 ~J"~ I, > . . . . . ! I I !

m16 'm ore ' of Halo 's F lo od than th ec icih,ed 'walilkiingi undead that 'we find inel l ot he , game ,s I{)day~ 'W'hiille I I don'tparticularly like th e g l a . m e ' ~ : s title, youshouldn't le,t that turn you o'ff to ani increld~b~e jndl~,esci 'f i adventure, Afternealr~y 2 years, S,PAZ , is stlll ollnlly in Betaand Is 2 5 , o k , ,o'ft'ti il l il i t g,ets released, The'g ame ' is utterly ~Immlelns,e a n d c on ta in shundreds of hours of ~ g a , m e ' p l l, a y . , SPAZcomblnes mly favorite e lements from; gr ea t l no le g-aml9s _ i i lk e G l r 'a t u i i t , o u s SpaceBat les end Starscepe into one of thebest p'c sci...i Q l a m e ' : s , I have playedsince Star Coritrol .2 . If you've heardot and ,en~loy'!ed any of the ,gar~~e:s,hat ~have com pa red SP A Z to l in th llS article ~you 'wi ll i probably enjoy ,S ,P A Z a s m uc has I have. Checlk the gaml!9 ou t andsuppor t M i i n I M , 8 x , . 'Th is ,2~manC,a,na,di ianteam knows how to make g l , a , m e : s .

,.. ldJki@ ,G : ~n~,a,d-~I ' - V ' , ' , ',v ,"~:. 'J ;! I . . : g


14/20

Q I , a m e ' developers have aputation for t)e~ngtechnical expertst h e i r cratt, This combined w i i t , h aIk f' "" ' h II d lh '" " '1 0 ' " c lr !e a t ll ' v ll t y _ " ,2 1 , :$ ,e ' - '_ t o , 8 t " _ r il vl ln giindlustry. Housernarque's Outland

, a g a m l 18 that certainly justifies theeputation of their n at~ ,o na~iity - iil is amooth and visually snmninq glam'Ets fa r es 2 ,D platforrners go" Outlandb " " ~ Y ' - 'ar O " - " I - n - e ofthe mos : t l,s t y l l s h and, ' ' i" " " , - i I 1- ,"..., .... , .... " ,",,~ ...' ". I., ... r ," I ." I I . ... ,.,' -'_ ,,' I, 11 _catchlnq. P layers are treateda subouette presentation that, s u p o o r t e d bya b a c k , l g r l o !U l n d thatt l h l , e character to,eachlevel - from a l u s h forest tometeor s hower, T h e forsqroundpts more of a minimalist stylebi " t . ; I . " IIy corn . I n l l ng con rasnnq coioursthe black '1 1 m ' "'a. g ' ; Q , r y " ', : The cont r a s t..',W W c' " , ' "" _~. ~ 'v 'LI. 1 1 1 1 , , ', ',etween ~ghtand dark ls a central- - - - - --- - -- -- ~ '- - " t h - - - - - h - - - 't 0 ' " ' . " " I I - - - d l,- -~, I, . , ': '-, i: '''I '1- " 1 - "nerne runrunq IroUlgouUl, ,BJtthe visual display i O i n l ~ y helps toI U l s , t J r .a l ehe , a ee o 'm p , a ny 'i ln g p ll o t~ I l f 'n 'y t :h in ,g t lh , e ig a m l !e '~ s , n a r r, a t iiv e i i , s i t s ,ak , p 'o i in 't , a s , ~I' l i t e ra lly ' I b ,o ii l s , d o ,w ' n t o ,' t l ra d ~ t ' i ,o n a ~ g l lo o d versus , e v ' i ' l l theme,w h ~ c lh ' y 'o lu p la y , a ,n i i n ca ~ n a . t i i ! o !n o f a n, nc : ie n t 'w a n ~ ' io 'r , b ,a t tl l i i n g t o I p r - e ; v 9 ' n t the~" t " of' th Id O ' = : - ' f - th'les~rUCI'I!iOlnO il ' .,"8 wo r ." , I co 'u rS !8 '. .' '1,8

~ - - - - t- - - - - - - - - h - - - f " - - - ' ~ - - - - - - - h - - - - - - - ".' '. - . . II'. ' . . " .', .' . II .' " ' ." "IS not so muo 0' an IISSU8' WI en youare served such an e l l e g , a n t blend ofg l, a ,m e p , la y " U n fo r t 1 u n a t, e l l y th e 'g ,B lme doesno t I b r ii ln g a l n y t h i in g new t()1 the, m l b ll , e iinterms of core ideas, in fact i it bor rowsthe colour s;wiitch~ng mechanic fromlkaruqa The 1 - e " e ' I I " I - ' l n g " of 'a m " 1 I - I ' 1 '1a 1 i " " 1 f f y ' 'to hat1 _ , 1 _ " : : . 0 1 . , I . : . ' I ! _ = I . : : I ~ , . : : . . I ' : : . " 11 t_ ~ , : : : . _ 1 _th h th .. b"t f' dluns, mrouqr me gl8 ,lm e ,S a ll. 0 'a '.ownside when ~'h'egame"s pre sentation._~ '. .". .. ' ~ Ii I I 1 1 . ' . . . . . . . " , ' ' ~ ' : ; _ ' Ir-~ Ii II.' .., .', '1feels SI D fresh, Considerinq this thouqh,It is not the dellvory of lnnovatlon fromthe developers that makes Outland : S ! Onm to I p l , t 3 ' Y ~but the mastery in w h i i c l ht h iey " : h ' 9 ' - , ' v. e ta k e 1 1 1 " p e ' : = ' " " ' 1 ' f i ' U s 1 ' 1 'd0; ;;], s a I n : : - dt - " " . ' I I I I - ' I I ! ' u'"", .uC .... I.___ " _ - _ '_ __ ' - - - - - - - - - "_ __ _ "_- - -comolned them '1 0 1 provldea tiight andenjoyable e x pe ri e nc e,Do not be fooled b iy its beauty though,Outland is no pushover. It is true,th t th th' b. " : : . . ' I ' , . ' ' ~ ' . , ' . . . . . , " . " ~ ' . ~ : -I~ : . ~ , ", .: :,c , " . " :", I a, e ga lm e eases e p a ,yer In yt e s k i l n g l them to flig ht simple creaturesand traverse only the most basic ottra - p c : : - . '5 - '8 -'nd p ~ 1 1 ' t " 5 - ' a - t flrst Eve - 1 1 1 - , t ua m l l-ycthe1 , 1 : . 4 :1", '., - . i I I. !I J ' . '~ .v I , ' , I W ~ . ' . . . . !L.vm n m " e - I n " 'm 1 m d O ' - ' 9 , e , p"'lrk U p ' '~I 1 1 ' I ' l i t * ' I I . 6w h c - n - '__ < _IIII.!L I_I '~_--~'_~ __ -_ . U__Lt'v_: __v'__t h e I p l , B ' y a l r , d is c o ve rs ,B,nancf,ent powerth-a t --n ab ' lies - ' I h - m ' to sw ' l f f ( " i ; . h al' lgilFllm~ent" 1 ' : - : " 1 e-"::-}--~-~_ " J e _ " - _ 1 '- , , ~ , ' . l ~ : ' C ; _ ,> __'-~I-LI_-I~--III be t w , e le n I b l lu e ' a n d ll r e d (mi,ght , 8 I n , d ! d a r k ) mA t ' t lh , e t h is , p , o in t . thle e n v ' i ir o , n m l e , n tb e c 1 o m e : s , a l o ; t m lo r e , t.riic:ky t iD m l O i v e 'a r o u n d l i in , a , s , t h e p l l , a y e r m lu s t re ly ' ,on

quick reactions from both their headand thelr flingers,. The chal engle Is flteven t h ! 9 most outspoken p l a t f ; o r m l i n g lmaste r s: ~ '~ m '- '1 'ln 'g -'1 is m m ' ~ peccsble and at_ _~ ~, ~ '. -" c i" , ! l. " _ _ 1 _ _ _ _ 0 W _ " " : i ' !Y ' ' ' , .~ ~ : _ " _ - 'u _ . 1 ' _ 'b_U m l e ' s even fee l i s , impossible. T h e p la ymust j u g l g l l e , correctly judg~n,g jumps. I I " . ith de ".t ' d -" - ." th . '.' t t - _. . . . " . . I " ' I " ~ . . " "1 " ,a ong WI. I uncerstanc nq t te patternsth e' s pirit @ ' ne r!g ,) 'b e i i n l g pum ped aroundt h L i k 4 + ' h m t h l' screen, I re r 8' p raye r I'IIS comein e ith er Ib u eo r red and the playermust match fhe colour ii f they are to ,p as s t h ro u gh it s a f r e , lly " T h e , escatafond i if f ii ' c u lt y i i s s l lc )w ' b U l t sure, , B , n d l in ' t h ,e ,the, g la m e w ' i l l l S,ihIIQW' n'D mercy t l O I ihosewho h ~v - b r " - ' v . -d ' 1 " 1 +th II liS f - i" Th'','~ g 'l ' v__11-' _ J B _ i e _~!_ a _ e ~ _ _ ~ : l_ J . - - I _ all ' " _ " _ _S,=J ~ efur ther reason fo r th e' p la y er t o , s top astare at th e screen ; fiirst~y to adm~ r13beauty o t the ! g a m I 19', but to ~ h ! e l n a so' f i i ! g u r e out how to cross its, ' g a , u l n t l e t , g" ; . . t h . .d U , d '1 1 b t . . d JI I ' " t h ' . ' . " " "unsca Ie " n au" ec y u IS, IS afru stra fnq e xp erie nce a nd the re w~..U m l e s when takin'Q damaqo will seemfair compromise to proqress throuqhlevels, However, t h e , g , a , m e ' u l l t 'i lm a t -e llyr :e ' w , a ,r d : s t h e IP,ati ielntand l : h o u g l h t f u l l la l n d 'w~.~e ' e k . o ' n l y to , I P L I n i i s h th os ,e whr e s o i r t . t , o b l i n d l " u ' c k "


15/20

la nd is .a smooth and de lectab leb - = - I U , t i it a - -,s' . o - = ' , f F - c : ; , r ~ = va ria tlon b y....'a_,0_,,e_~_ ._J _ _ _ _ 0__,S ,___ 'L _0 _,,the player w~th combat, A t. the,t b " th t I I ' .. . . ' . . " . - . ' - , - . - " . . - , ' I ' " : : . ' . - . . . - . . - . . - , . ' ' - .. . ' -s oasic ,', a ' prayer must lO inY SWlllnligsw or d to , d e fe at l a r g e sp iders anarmed warriors. urther ilnt,o the, ga.ml'Bva st ra ng,e o f e ne m ie s ls in tro du ce dut t l h , e player's b~,gges. tconcern ' w i i l l , be' .s., '"t . . '1 . w , : 'h ' I' th . b ,t . " t ~ . ' ' ., e u r spllnl ICOIO'liL ',',,'",Ie ILle 0 is ruc~veo f spirit energy must be matchedorder to a b so rb lh,emj, the ' playera n ,onlly deal damaqe to foes Ib ythe, o,ppo:s~nl,g ciolOdUilr.As cain be

'9,d l j this often become 's a ,diiffi'cu~talance and one that will lead to manyt'" II dl th vff h IIl !I ln ~Im,e_y'~ , e a I L _ - _ l " ' fe~:,wnen , 9 , _ _ seems, have reached some form of a, peak inbO,5S bat tle' i nev!tsJb l y ' arrives.h tin'Q these I , a r ! g e titans, w~~,es t a , l le skills acqeired up to tlh at point andm ista ke's are severely punished., not expec t 'tlh,e 'gs ime to be, ' forgiv~ng"or a 2lD plafforrner these boss batdes

~ II I ! t' .e surpns~ng.Yep ic In proportionthe I m u I S , m C an d visuals b'endiing, deliver an experience worthy ot tlhecient 'Gre'ek battes between rn0rtaldl,ei ity . ,A,dlm'i ttedl"y a couple ofthese'BS seem too unfair at t~mle!s"butt h a n l this iis th e , d a n l ' g e ' r o ' I U l s , ' yml~l li ia , r tones emanatinq from themwith a t lea st tw 'o of I :he'm ,dii reetly 'm,oment:s, fr om S ,lh ad lo iwf t he C,o"OSSUI.s,~ Wh!sther thiis ~,sa' f' ~ '- u 'm ~ O " I P : C " - y '" I P - ''8 ' , s , te'o b ' , o " I ' r - ~ . ' l 'r - ~ b i I U I i f ; , Q1 ! : ; 4 'W" W ' ! I , , ; iI . . . . . . ' . . . . . . ' ; , ' . v J J I " . . . " , !:;I . II . .. I lv I'

t I le ,a ,9 ! a s im i ll ar , qu,e, ll ii y t ,o t lhe e ffo rt sf Te,am ~,co"sma,s terp i j'8cI8 is , rea~~se,d~albiilll'ty t1 0 t r a n s , f o , r m , d e ' a : s i il nt o a fr,esh e,x,pieriienoed'" b la l lra . e' "

'W - 'h I,. II h ~vnen l it IS a, over t .. 'ere rs reason to..- ,~.. . '~-'_ d - t _. t h ' . ~ b " II 't ' " _ . -' . _ ' . - - - I 1 '- , - . . . . - 1 -r ! e v n s areas_U!'e'o _ I e new a , IUesgl,a.ined throuqhout the ,game~ IBlr1akiingthrouqh t : h a ' 'groulnl,d, shootinq acrosst h e s K Y and sllidinl,g through nmnelsare just some of the, albillijt~,es,drip-fedto th e p layer, U n llk e o th e r g a me s,O *1 1 d ~- t "I d th t -~ : _ ,a n , ~ _ S l ' , a ll_ o ' r e '= , s o '_ _,a n ' e w Im'ov'esare not dumped Olil the, player at th estart, b i u t are instead earn I throughproqression. Time is ' therefore allowedfor the player to master each . a l b ~ l l ~ t yw i t h enotoer plus o,e,iing that ihere aresurpr ises throuqhout the !9'ni't~lrlele'npgthof the 9lams" This 8 , 1 1 8 ' 0 ensures thatthere a re p l l e n t y 1 0 " h ld den a rea s to ,d iscover, where money and Mla, rlks ofthe Gods can be found and collected,,t' ha t w"-~Ir-~no t . ,~ ce s s ib le-) ee r~ii '- ' Ir 'n th e_Cl __1 9 ' _ e _,0 a .. e s," _ ~_..e _ _ _ _ , _ 6 :9 1 8 , m B , . These ab il iiU,BS seem to be a g ift,a t, , 1 ' : 1 ' 1 1 I ' " ' 5 - , t ' as f r ' h = - g ' y - o ro vld ~ n e " " ' - w - ' - ' w ' - " - a - " y ' e 0 -' f:".- , , ~ h .' '.' I j ., l'II;;;l fr-"'I!IIII' '~ .. ~''_,I,~ , rd l '- ' f " - ' 8 , ' t " 1 n n - n - ' . _ . - ' l e - - nd m - k ,- I f " !o . , _ Im - l b ' - , t'e ' e' - II,_-!~ e l _ - J e _ _ _ , ~ 's a , -I . ~ I , ,- ~ a . e IVO, noar i c h e r than : s , ~ m l p , l l 'ys l la s l h i i n g a sword, litsoon becomes clear that reward comesa t a p rice as ]he gam ,e now has a I n e ' w 'obstruction to m atch the n,ew'l ly Q la inedability~ The requirement to be precise,quick t.h'inkiinl'g and to become a, mas terf .~" ,. b t d l t t tdmil lngi rs . u aln un erstaternenwhen conslderinq 'Outlland" Why~ i i m i t the frustrat ion tO I just yourselft h o u g h ? iOnl lne co'-o'p ~,sa'va~llable", bilutu n f o l r t u l n a e , l l y the, who~egam'B dOles notcat.er to th is, m ode ~ ID,e:siig.lnate,d GO-'Ot:" l llevels are provided for aCduo to take", t ' h - ' e - ' ~ " " 'f...u - e f h , . . ~ t ~ A - n : :' ' O = I ' u l t " O " = " l n 'e - = - '~ c = - ' h o - = , :t h '"o -rI 1 _ '. : ,!I ,!I -,';:'~.!I,!tA,V_ ,~ '. 'c _ 1 . _ _ I ':,y,_1 [_ '. ,_,v_"E v p e ' ' c ' t I i l O " I ~ t l up f " r o ' m " ' h , l i : ! l ; g ' 1 8 " m ' 8 " blul~'A'_I I ' . - I I . ' ~ . , _ . . I. . !iJ.' -:',- .'. '. I,only' eV'9n more cQ'lmpll ex cha ,l le 'in l'ge, s.that w'iil i llf 'equiir,e pa'tienoe , a n , d tes I m w ' O Irk,It i is perha,f~)S for fe,ar ,oftlhe fi 'ghts. that

may ensue, that ,8 , local co-op ls nota - "V ' a m ~ b " " ' 1 1e P i I avers ' w " " ' 1 1 1 1 ~ a-ve t0 ' = ' S ' = " I ff r e - = : ': ~ _w , ~ ,_ ;' , . . . ; ' " _I _ > _ j , ; ' ! ' . _ ' , ~I:,_ ,.; _~: _ I . . ~ :with shoutinq at,each otherthrouqht : h e , 'r headsets ~ probably for the b e s tn a a l l ly " 'A f te r 9 1 1 1 1 1 $ sa ld a nd d one Ii. Is c lea r t h a1 0 I u t g l a ~ n d I " I S ' " a : - : S " U p e rb " g . :a m 'e " Attraact ln. .: . ,. I w , _ , _ I , ,- ,_ I , - ' . ' . ' _ : ' " _ . : . . ~ I I _' _ I. '. :, :_ ,__ lU I . '. ' . . _ ;t __"tlh h f - , . ~ ~newcomers 'Will. I suer a -an tasncp re se nta tio n a c ts , as , t he Iacade o fsednctive beau ty . Beneath the surfachowever lie's a ,d,emlolniica, ll l ly c'hall~,englgame, I,ha t seeks to co,ndiiti!cn1 tts plla yeto the, d,ellights. ot torture, You w illi n othave t,o sell your soul t O I conquer the'c:ha~I"engles w i t : h i i l n " but OuUan,d w i i l i l lensure that: the taste of blood residesY ' i r J U r mouth,


16/20

ls O J muse rhy thm ga m,e fromipher Prime and ' t h e i r ' f i i r s t title f o ri P a d " The g lo a ll in Pulse is s imple:p the orb,itiin'g notes, in tim e 'with theW : "h i l e the qame's g lo a " a n d'_ : . ~ ' , " ' , , " ' !v 1 ' ~ ~ , '" ~ ' " ' , ' " , ' . , : ' , I ' , a m l , s p l l a , y m e ch a n ic s a r e simple, Pulsea n ' ) f t l h l n g l but easy, Some of th e laterc k s a r e c h a I Ie n ' g l l n g l a n d the n e ,w ' t rle e- w - - n - '- ' I I F ' Ii ( a - deble tracks are I - P " :l i - , ~ , l f . t r : y , , - b i r " i - u - t ' : ' ~ 1..'" u_.u_._t, C o ll I . " ...;:J UIII '.' . I ~ll_ _'. W I_ - c l _ 'I

, d i i f f h : ; ' u l t y t s a c l : u , a , I I , y enloyabte a n ! dakes Pulse a p er fe ct i i I P ,a !d showptece' y ! O U I '" ' friends. Pulse is b es t' w h e n you're sh,ow'ing ~toffyour friends and competinq w ' it h t hemhigh scores,", Cipher Prime has done" d l " b l " b lt h P I I It " t. .", - 1-":" 'I C ' , . . . " . :' . , , ' . , 1_. " : . . , :::.." ".. ,:1n1crs. II ,e jo ".W I ~ , I U S811, IS a I m U I S ,i i P ' , a d l app, Pulse's : s . t e l l l , B J r desiqn,~ I 'I d ~ I I I Is, ImU,SIIC anc S , - l m I P e I g a m e ' I P , a yw i l l make all your friendsn v y y ou r ' i I P a ! d and when t h ,e y ' c a n ' t-.- t , Y O ' u r I h m g h e j9 "O - r e Y "U w ' 1 1 1b - th e,a l : " " _ W ' , ~ _ _ O 'V -'_ ".. '~ , l u ! I _ _ : : _ I _ : ' , e ' _ ~~ee Ile ,l sm iIi in g l ~

ulse has no campaiqn, The !gamle isore like an album of music .. There's amenu a nd l y ou select that sonqyou want to pllay~ Y ou do your besth~ t L - - - - - - - - - - - - - t - - - - - - - - - !b l l - - - - d l. 'I''" -. '.' ','.: ......., " .:-"...-: ,-',', ,'; :'" .','_'.' '.'I, a,s, I m a n y no -e.s , a . s , pOS,SI...e ,a n ..e th e'ln ,g ive n a Ip eJ rc en m g , e , s e o ,r e ' a t' 1 'n d o f , e ac lh , s o n g~ P U l l s . ' e , s l h i i p ! I P ' e d~ ~ -- Ih 8 '" C- r - t f '; - e l k s fr _. C " ~ P h - If p ' . If ' 1 - - I_. ._ ' : - ' . - ' - - " , - " , I ' :- . 1"-: .....:-. '1"- - i. - ,- . - , '-. ",-,_ _ _I . . 0_e . 1 ,8 . ' . " " _ '. , ~ .' _ _ 0 I . " _ I . __ e_ _I _I 1 _ 1 _ _ I_ e sD'sin S,a~ntand I K e r r y ' G i i l l b e r t L ~ Ik ,em U ls , i i c , , a l l b ' I U l m ~ th,ere , e ~ r e s . o , m i B trac,ksy l o u ~ j ll il p ; - a y o,ver a nid O lv 'e 1 lr a , g a i i n , 8 l n dome ' t ha t ' ' ' : i o u j l ~ - e n l ' y pll,a'y l o n ce or t w iic e ' . .t l l h , e ~ o i l ' L : " ' ~' I ~ I I " " c a " t I,G ', ' M " , : , ' ' S - ~ ' a " ' k u l r a ' i l S ~ t h " e ' ' ./ . . ~jI Ii\.,u, vii v .', 1 1 . . . j' . .. .,. :,: , ': .. .., I ' . '. 'a ' n 'd " " 's ' d " ' O " W ' 'n ' " f - \ a v o " I I " ' ' ' I ~ ' c , P " ' u l l l c ~ " ' s " ~ i l g ' - I h t ' ii "" " 'o ' lr ~- . . . . . , < , . / : ,'Iii ! ..1~:., '. u'v ....~_ 1 IL; ,I ~dl,oan exce , ' ,ent. j j ! o i b of spanniinl '9d i i f f i c : L l l t y sps'ctrum 1 0 i f ' , e , e s y t o , Ih a , r d ,"y O i U w a l n t i lm IP l o s s , ~ lb lle ~a ,1 1Y O L I hav,e to

do is check out Tldbits from ' G , e l o l r l g e andJonathan a n d V e ie d ja , from Ghost I F ~ , g h t .- W - ' - I- h -1 1 - P - I - I d -] ' t h - ~ -, . . . " I " 1,- :("" ' ...... -, ~.,, '" , , - 1 ',. . "1 1" ',,,. . . . . I I ~ e u s e w a s r e easec W I. o n ye ight tra cks for $ 4 , , 9 ' 9 1 ~ th ere w ~~ 11e a tleast 3 1 2 tracks when a~'the [updates ar ero.. e d I 0 ' ut The re a'." : e ~ 'foiur new S , > 0 n g , ' -S , 'i . . , . ' 1 , , . ' . I... .../I , _ 'f r o m P lh ll~ ~ 'y arfists scheduled to releaseevery month for 6 months f o l l l l o ' w i i n gtlh,e g , a m l e ~ s , re lease . A s of the w l r ] li n l , gof th i's r :ev'~ ,ew,~he f li rs , t f ) ;a t c , h o, f songshad been released and th,ey are ~)tret.tyf iu ' t l h l l' B S S ~ W le " I r e s t . F l U I g g l ll ~ n g t o ! b r e a k 5 , 0 %o n Tidbits and - V : - e " e d ' - J " a ' - W - ,- h ; ' - I e " the latest_ " '.:__,':- '_:.'.1111-


17/20

, e ln a Ig am ,e ln vo lve s cra ,fU n:g ",l ii l! d i i n g l ~explorauon and I k i i l i l i i n g iii t is very easy to drawt. O I the excellently receivedn ,e ,c ra ft 'W h ii le this can be done 'w~'therraria, the Re-Loqic team has workedmske ' i t : unique in its own ways~he most strik.iing i i n i t i i a l l impressionth ,a " T e rra ria fe a tu re s a b e au tlru lD landscape. W'h i I l e ',it is possible to~ - , t " ~ ~ - , t - I b - ~- ,t t "~ ' I " ~ " ~ ' I h - t =onstruct ~ 8 ' "0 'irate s ru c tures.j a - IS",,'~Il ",' ,~'- - , ".',' ,t: .t~ ' " ,'," , " ,',; ' V"" ", II " ',, - ,," 't the e nd g l, o a~ ., lnstead p~,ey',ers,e i r e

t i O I explore, craft, items. huntonsters loot and summon bosses.can even b ' I U i il ! dadditionallor structures ~n the hopes thather characters ' w ~ l l ~come to live there.here is plenty t . IO keep bofh creative! Q _ U ' 8 S tdriven players appeased and

II t d t ~ I I I b d .,."1,: '. -, ~ ,., -i'"1 ,~.", I(i 1-< . ", , ' .. I " . ".ayers are expecten m earny o llng l.,manuel or t u t [ o r ~ a l l system has beenplemented. lnstead, players areccom pa n l e d b '~ '. '~ y ::J I g ' ~ ' ~ U "tid e R -'~ ~'h -:' I"r~t hano . .i ' . ' .' I" ,v' .," ColI: :. .... . IIIiJ '" . '!:;I It ' I Ii J _ !l I,~ ,~ e i t l l y t :eaJ'l :: h~ngUl ,e p layer , h ie prefersqive vague notions by ' which to live- - 'W ' " h - !II - ~ - : t' ' " - b ~ ' t t - - " " t h - ~ - " - t'h-'~-~~ -',. " " ' , :_, " .. ," , ',' ," I - ' " - " : ' ' , - , - ( " ," [ ' , ' , ' " 'y .. " II e I, ~,S,8, .er .".an not I Ing~a,o , f s,uch m , a g ln it :u d , e c ou ld l u s e , 2 1 ,rmal lntroductlon, Thankfully, there areme g l,e ne ro Lls community membersho have put together some bas ictc r ia Is 'o:ll ~ l l o ' 9 W ' I ' I t h " 'o:ll W " " ,'1 k m, II i"ID" ::' g .i '~ ..........,. g.... I W .,h i i l, s the f i r s t , , d , 8 ' Y c a n bes , l ll m [ j n g , players quick y learntheria j:s,a world tiD iexpl lol"e' , B , n d an,of I P ' O ! S 8 , ~ b i i l l i t i i , e : s " ,I'here' is' -W ' ~ ) I' I, d -~ ,o - n i ~ ' n - ' - ' :2 - ' 0 ' I " P - '1~ ' I ! l n - ~ ' O - I ~'V"p-III,O-' 11'"'0 T - ' h - ~ '

. : . ' ~ . >Ir'~' ..... ... ~ ". ~ J : " " ~.A ",W".II VI 'II;Jr f s lc e t p re s ,e n t : s o p p , o r t u n i i f , e s : n t h eof un~qu,e ,en ,eml ies , resouriOBS'@ Vlent.s,slJch as fa ~iing sta,rs olrt eo r s tr il k'e '$,. -

The underworld, on the other hand,,. ~ f f t ~ t Irequires mmca , e ' nav~,ga' o n cievertunnellinq and a sharp eye t,owatch outfor Gla I I F f t : 'W 'orms ' - T I h e - I ~ r ~ e - ' - r e mu lt ip le. 11 ' . -" I I I I - . '. . [. '. ~ '. ' I'. . ' > " ' ! I .O ; i ' I L a I, ~'erwironments within every world, eachlth th ' , t " ' " "',,' ." 'ellr own rnmcacres.The worlds are met iculously crafted,Each sprite used ii n the, ga,me' wor dis s ~ m p ! l y beaut ifu l. C :a re ,-h ,a ,s,beent aken in a " - g r a l p h ' i c a l l e le m en ts fro menemies, such a s , t h e Demon E y ' , e orG I Q . - . , b o I li n W " ~ ' lf " ri i~ , r , ~ t =- , , = - , p ' r i ~ l w l i l n ' = ~averns."~__"~_a~~_v~~~0 S "OJ ~ ~9 va ~e__~'or dunqeone. ' W h i l le each world doeshave 8 1 reslrlction 1 : 1 0 1 the left and r l i g h t ~ihere is arnple opportuniity to explorewit.hiln eech world. Of course," , ii t ispossible to trek across a world but thatwould iiglnor,e C l i n e ' of the k . l e y ' features ofTerraria: diiiggiing down and cavinq,There is plenty to do in S'iln,gle'Player,I B u t then, the game, opens furtherw]h a I m u l l t ~ I P ~ , a y e r mode, Plavers canassist each other in quests and caveexploration or can take th e route ofplayer versus player cornibat A " " I I Idst '~. ~. _" :: .: "' ., ._ ' ." ~ ': ". I lg Y O l [ . ' _ (; II (: :. . . W ~O_ ..[ __:}cl~!!l.~-.~_ !.. I_U Uis saved to t h e player's character ' T h i smeans ihat It ls quite simple 1 :0 1 take ac h , B r , a c t , e r and t:he'~requipment thet youhave re fin ed iin th e s iin gl~ !eplayer anduse them online,This is one ot the key points o f Terraria,I R , e - L , o g ~ e , has s i i m p , ll if ie , d I a fe'w elementsin order to le_the player p l l B ' y asthe ~ I ' " k " " " ~ " c - - ' . . . f't' .'.' ~ ,' , d '" '" . ~ ' , I b ' " ' , , ' ii ', ' "ey W r e " . . . ral, lng ~S .o n e . . .y , s . m lp YpOis,se'ss~ngI.he correct r e ~ s l o u r l c e s , a n d l,equiplm,ent, a n d ! t l h , e n ! c h o o 8 ,~ n !g I : o ! m a lk e~t~ x p l l ' o r , e r , s erie k,ept :sa,t~,s,fieda , s , i l t :elms,do , not , d e g lr a d e ,~ T O I r 'c lh e ' s w i il l l stay I l i tu n l l , e : s s 'wa,t1er f a l U s upon ii t T 'ho(s .e t lha ,t

'!' h ~ ~ t - d - I ~ " ! t - h ' k : ds .. ~ :O lqueslil. Im,a,y;, 0 5,'0 wr:-I a S!la,'C.l1~nvent or y" s .c l'fe i in - . h e , I k n o w l l, e !d g l ,e th.al,de',ath 'wii~~mpa ,c t th e'~ r f i Ina nl(JBS,a l l [ o n s ! ,

~ ~ - ' t - h - ~ " 'I l h - - - ~ - ~ ~- . .~ - ~ ~ - ~ . I l - - ~ - I I " ~ - b I -. '- .. (. ,- . . ... ~ . . . II' . < ,.. ...ratner t tan w I p n g our a va UB". e~ t ' f ' t -conecnon ' O i " I iiems .' ' ' " I i' ' . . . . i u . . . d l f ' f I II erra n a ~S '{lie n ' 9W - en n n I I O ' i n O J: va uefor money There are three, world sizeand a seominqly ~ nf~ niit,en um b er o fcomblnatons and world pceslblltt les.P ' l l a y e r s have so' much choice overthe way that th ey P ia y B'8 ,C : h time. li t ispo ss ib le t o, c re a te I U I P to , f lve , d i ' f f e r e n tcharacters, so,players can take iil upothemselves to p l l E t ' y each in a ,d il ffe r,en tst,y~e~There Irea~_y~is somethlnq foreveryone in Terraria,


18/20

is a charminq liittlle ,2D point-a dv en tu re 'tiif!e fr om StateP~a,y 'Garnes. The player takesntrol of l .urnl who is v ~ s i t i l n g l herra n d da d's h '0' nrs~:,e'"He~'ha s g" one to". " I . , . . . . , ' . ' " . . . " . , ' . " " ' . ' ' : " ~ . ~ ' ' . ' ".'II b t h I ft. IL ~- :- ', ~ ". ,: ' " ~ ' ,- -, - ," J -I: , = - , - , : - . - ' : ' : : - . . _ _ . : ~ - , ' - ' - ' , 'V I I _ ,age ".U I . as, e urn sOlmein teasers to sotve The story takesin , and around the house asurnl attempts to restore power to, theThl - .. f t' - tI ~ S ! e q u l ~ ' r e s ! a m iX , '0 _ crea' , IV:.Y,~termination and clever t h i n k i i n g l "

he art style is quits simply, wonderful,he set is built. f rom cardboard and' w l h i l l l !8 ansnations are capturedJ m u T he s~,y me'I ' I S be .autiful and. ,I ~ 1 , l , 1 , , : .' : IL I ~ ~ ' - : : . ' - : . , ' , " , w , . ' : 1tu re s th e world maqnlflcently, IEven' w B ' y , ;l h e game ls filmed is to beaed w~'tlhexcellent homemade

l m l i i jl s qranddad does not make I l i felo r h er" ,A ,s if i t :wasn' t bad enoughat the, e lectridty is ; g o , n e ' j ' g l r , a , l n , d d a , ds, also locked the doors and therero key, lnstead, l.umi must workut how tO I get inside the, house, Onceide there are' several more puzzlesma ste r to , re sto re ' power to, th e house,e i i ~ s ,eft w o n d , e r m n g 'why glrand,d,aduld not have done t h i i : s , before he left:w " Q u l l d ' b - ~ lo t s im ple r for e ' o m ' 'eon 'a_ ~ I - I ; ' _ _ ' ! e , c . . W v i' - ~:1 _ _ - _ . . I I I ' - : ' 1 ' 'w I~ _ ~'-l' __'- .'._!ti'

m t ' l - h a - I I - I Ihe codes and - k " ' 9 ' Y " S ' to perfo 'Irm'i " '1 ' , :. I " ' 1 ' _ . _ ' : : ' . ' ~ ' . ~ - ' I ' . I'~'~ '~',~!_, ,.'': : I , } the I n e l G e s : s a r y a c : t m , o n s .pu ,zz. ll es, a , n e 'quiite' d~ve~sie'w~tlh f- I ., f 'I ImiX, '0' C IUH3S,rangl lng l ' ir 'om mIU,S ltC:8. .t, . I.. ' I I ~ ' , ' , , ' , ' d ' ' , ' , . "t , , t h ' ." : ...... ._ "" .- " I I~" - . I : - "11 1_ ," .. [_e S'~ 1~S,UI ,a cues an s l p o , e:1 ~ l ff f " _ . : e , r o , n - j""!i.,Q 'g ' " a ' I 'm - - Q " s - ' S < ' O - 'i l- m - ' - "' 8 i o - , t f :' t' : h - , ~ - p = - " - U - I Z ' , z : >1 1 ~ ' s ~ f. w ~ vV' '.i I v. ". ..'_.... . .' . !!;Wi .. ' . - -, ~ .

' i9q u i i t s t r i c l k y ' but t l h ! e r lB ' i i s , a s , e n l , s , e o f

s

accomplishment once the coqs start,tu Iflniing in th e player's brain,IL , - I I I inth f - t t f" t h. . . . . .. ' , " ' , ' " .. " " ' . \ " 1 " ' ," ' , " . . . . ' . . . . ,.ume '0 i OWS l i n . '8 I O I O i S . eps ' 01 , regra,ndldad and does not make liifaeasy for the player; W ' h i ll e , the ' g , B l m emechanics and controls a n 3 v e ry 'simple, ihe puzzles ,can provide ac h , a l l l l e ' n g , e , . Unlike s o m e releases, if' ,8code ii s found, i it i i: f snot stored" p i l l a y ' e r sm u s t r e m em be r i i t o r revisit where t l h i e y 'found the code to refresh thelr memory.Th e I r e ' i s also no in-built Ihiint. system ~nthe g a ,m l e~ T his me an s that players wjillit th h t bb '. . . . . " 1 1 " " , ' . ' . ' . 'I I ' . ' . ' ' ' ' . ' . " . ' ' . ' .never q UI~. I rOlulg s U1.oornness, ,giveup or simply consult an on lne Igu~de"li na sense i' t harks back to, simpler timeswhen there were no cheat systems andd ' t" lt ft "1 9J.-u IPconnecnons m ea nt n w as onenquicker to,solve a problem.I U n fo r t u n a t e llY j L u m e is p a r t one o fa , larqer, o n-q oinq s to ry . T his 8 , no tnecessarily a problem, but this f irst pertls extrernely short and offers no replayvalue. 'There, are no alternative ways tocomplete puzzles and there is I l i l t t l e ells,eto explore, Challenges lracklnq fewestmoves or time to, complete could havee n ': ]ha - i I F I I l J F i ; . e " d - t h " I ' e ~ , - r ' , e ' : - _I P ' ~ - Y ' . : , v : 9 ' - , I I I U e - ~ ' O = - " m ' I e - " ~ , w , i, J 1 h " 1a : ~ ff,._:_~ _ _ ._lljI yr., ' _ .' _ ...... _ . ." '," _'U, : .' _ , ,_..", ~Y"., __ :. ' .. _ _ .:' _I ! ! ICF\ne'ld ' ertn g how- .ehort "h e g - m ' -v J _ ~ _ - '_ ' . _ _ . _ 1'> _ _ -_ - ': ~ 8 _ _ ~ i _ . tll-= a l _ ' _ - _ eis i l ' t ' is undarstandab -I e that there. ' " " . , : , ' . . I' I " ' . '. . ' , ', ' " . " ', ' . . I .. "1' C ' j l ~ " . . " . . , ' . ' C , ' . . I r. 1 _ . . . . . ,~ . I 'c. I. . . I . . : : . . . .m h - i t' t- T - h ' i I - I d - b'.. . "" ". ' I ' : " ', ' . , ' ' . . . . . " . . . . . . . . . " , ' . . . . . . ' . "~ . s no In_ .sys em . II,Su a u " I , . e a na , ! c k n o w ' ll e , d l ' g e m e ' n ' t t:hat a l llo w ~ l n , g p i li a y e rst- t' I I I I b t lh . f-.. '. 1- " ',. .,C . ,..... ',: ,,.': ,.;,. " ' I . . ~ . . 1" " '" II " 1- I ;a e sse n la Y ,ypass. I' e c o u l p e opuzz les th,at pro'v',e Id'i'fficUI~t'w~~~nd thegaml,e ra ther qluiiic:kyi

title, There is a g'ood variety' in the styand ditficulty of IPUZZ-6S,~ U l n 'f o r t .u n a t e , iy "th e shor t play tim e ' o f th e tit e leavesI t~ M ld h ' . . . " ' 1 " 'I. >.''...)1 I; W ! : ; I _G . , t i ' " k" th .dv t r f - - . . , h' . -= ' I~' T,~': .... I~ ~ -. ' ,~, i~~ '1 .. . '-",8mas l B. ' .es '..e a venu" e rom" ere


19/20

g a , lm l e s make players spend so' mucho u glht, ,e ffo rt a n d t i i lm l e 0 n S ( l ' lm l e th l i n g that:ake f ive: seconds, Frozen Synaps.s:M d '7 .'G h 'od d to e s . . . '. '0, ! s " [ -. ~ ha m , e ! s I l a s p r o ' . ~ u l c e ! . , ,8 ' . ! o pt ur n- b a sad , s tr a te q lc s h o o t e r tha t hasayers ponderlnq e V 1 e ' m y poss ib le ou tc ome .ozen Synapse bears resemblance to t h eplannlnqsectlon ot o ld R , a m n b ow Slxla ve rs a re g ' l ' v ' t : : i I n " e n o ve rv ie 'W " '0 : f a "U'-,. I u, 'r' > _ - _ v':: [ IVI "I " " . - ' , . " 1 1 Y . " " " ' , _ "gener-aJtedl a re a a nd m ust plot outrsllmovemen t tu rn . ..by . . .urn. S qu ad s ,a r1 !'prise d of so ld iers a rm e d w 'ith a s-s au I ~t.eS~1, h o t g u n s , 'g renade I ~ , a n chers , snipere s o r rocket ~ I , a unehers ,tu nn lasts a total of five s eco nd s b utayers are '9 iive n th e oppor tu ni ty to prey ~e 'w 'soenar los I m l a y play out. W'hs!n players- I t - h t tl-h r f t -I i ~ -~ ~I-h- - , - = - ' - 1 = - ! ' - , - - , - - - , - : - -,-,:=- - , = - - , , = ,. - - :- - : - ! , = ;- 1 =- - ,1 = -, - - , : - :a _ , __c L c _ I _ S p e _ _B e _: p _ a n l iS r nn p , aH : ~ e ! 1 i " I _ eymply commit to ,8 turn and! the outcome

p ~ la 'Y e d o u t . Once you c o m m i t you m u s tc h, s ome tlm e s iin h ea rtb ir ea k ! a s y o urd d l tih ~I 'tI ' . , , . . . . . - - , - , .. . . . , - ( - - [ , . 1-- - - '[ - , , . __ . - > .m ove s arouru .1 1 Ie m ap , n a S91nS,8 j,II,e ,n ove rh ea d ve rs io n o f chess wih8!r,e y o u lr e -enactment s ot thJls'moves that ~h eponent could r n a ike o n c e V'(J" 'lI y , - ' , ' o P l r s e ~ l f ": l 1 ; . . l i ~ III, -, .. Ii I! [ "UiJ,j ..... yHn s ee ~ h l ! e [m ,e glraph'iea~ style ~ s .simple, but clean' ~ d : :: - sff ,-'--::-' - R - , ' , ' = " " ' = ' 1 - - - = - . - - : - '- . -= ~ - I - I - 1- strs * '- = : ' d - ' - . - = ' . ~ " 2 ~ -D- 'I_ e _ l_ lC l e n l~ " , _I~oom.s,a re t_US~ral~,e~,a "5 ~ _e rla ys w ith s ha de s o f bl~ues on diispl lay.serves to perfec,t~ly outline 'wher'B' coverava il ab le a n d how Ull!8' room is a lr ra n g ,e d ~plosions are dazzling and flre f iglh~s are

d i , s t ~ n , g r u J i s l h a b _ l i e ' , . ~tis a p le as u re to playtactlcal s ho o te r wh en I s . y , e l r y t h i i n g l ~ - S ' readi lyThe ,on ly d ow nfa ll in p rese nta tionthat th ,D * U - I - i"'n F1; c v " i C ! I , r - 1 ~y, i F " 1Q 'V i I iI~: , t w . . . iE!; b i i' i Il * *n o m ' fif~l~, _0": 0 .1 _ ~ ' L ~ _ u lu I~ v_v __g~V_ Y;! ~ JI ~I'!i;:;ii_vl~~v __ 1_v.le map. 'Tlhils can hide SOlmi'S' of'the a c ; t i i Q l n Olr'~,alm OV'ISS and re'q u ii n9'S p~l,a~l'elrst [o t~akeoma ear e t iD [ e n s .u n a t h ,a t ~ h e ii r , s q u l , a d dOles

o t g i s t C ,B U 9 1h t : O f f : " ' g u 8 l r d 0i i , s ;3 , i O ~ ) lm lp r e h e r n s ;i iv e ' m u t o M i ,C ' dhat:, em a n s . t ra t e ' s 8 p~layer " , s ,us k~I~'wiith c ~ick.iing'" ,i

(;a,n b,s playe!d o r w , c t! c he d o n l~ in !s ', "e tuto rilla I ~s 'i r n / s l u , a b l ~ , e ,clS w t bn:}a ks ~he'd o w n ' in to 8~mp[ le ' s ~;e pls t ,h at , whe n

I~'fhat: wasn't ,enougllh,~players have theoption t o e n g l; a ' g e in in s t a n t s k i i r rm is h e s . ~Thl!, .$11: a re r an dom ly g ' r B : n e r a , t e d scenar iosf l h a t replicate w h a t players w i i ~ 1 1face online,E,VIS'ry detallcan be customised from map" d ' t ' ~I Ith t. -"I" ,: -- " ], [ ,>-,-:.- :, ,-,, I '' ', , - ' ,' ,",' --,-" II",size, squa composmon a ne wa y 0~Ihe 'overall play' style of ~ I h ! e 'A I" There! is as . ' e e l m l in g l y endless combination of possibles ce na rl a s. a va iiI ia ble to IPIayers . iThe m l a i in draw o f I F r O i z , ( ~ ! ' n S , y n a p s J B is themult~pilayer element, I~ tis possible to makeyloiullrsel'f ava l l ab le fo r c lh , a ~ 1 1n g a s . or d irectlyeha l~~l ,enge'ot,her p~l.ay,elrsi 'G I , a m , e s can be. a c c e p t i B [ d and p 1 a . l rt ii c, ip ! a t ed i in a ~ , a . n y t w m i s , .When ne'w t un n s a r' e aV'ai~I,abl~e:,9 Ino,timc,ationW I" I I I a p ' l p e a l l i ' " W " h ' I I' C ' h g ' ' I ' v ' a s ' ' ; J k , ~ p ~ I B y e - ' II i' "; I I o J h e - O p " I On, . : . : . , . ' ; - _ u - , ' . ' . ' . . . . , ' . I :,~, I ~I ~~ ~' . : '~ " " . ' .. u- I~I' I ' : ' "I :~I'.'il HIi F ' i i f : ' 1 1 m e " d ' 1 1 8 ' t - - e l ny i f " " r - a f t ~ " l n a ' t- - u ll l" ' l If 'I I Ho w e " , / e l l ' " 'Ui ... ' .... . . , ~. . u. !~. i: 1 I I . ' . . .. . ': - I I g l ~I . .1 . . -. v " U '!players ,8 re fr,9,e tO I pi , a y ,a t th e ir l e i i , $ , ure ~ Ifi Q , f f J 1 ~ i i l n e ' , lay,ers w ii ~IIb e n o t j i f i e d !by e . .m ;a~1i l h a t a In s 'w tllirn ~ .s, a v . a i i ! l a b ! I ' 8 ' " ' T l h s - r , e ! a ,r e f hl eu n i , q I U l 8 ' ~ g , a , l m l emod,as , a ,v s U , a ,b le , a ,n d t w o. . . . w ~ " ' t - ~ h A ' t - h~ ~ n ~ ! s r ! s n 'v[er,s~on s o ~ r -eac' - ~ ; ; l a m e ean el I Ie r

b e "l i glhf~ ', w lhi c tru m ea n s tha t ene miies a re, a , l ~ w a y s v'"s,iible on the map, or "dark", whicm eans tha t enem ies wii~llonly' be visiblew h [ 9 l n in ,siilght and wiill appear as . ghos ts rn~ I t . . . . ~ " ' rlast know n pnS"I '* '" o n~!n~:~L : = : :_ ' " :: : '1Iiy:~, I I ~ iy .,T h,e mul tf fip~laye r- iin terfa oe is fu ~II o fi ln f i o r m a t j i o n , r,anging from the bsst rankedplaye rs to resu Its o f m etches and I n e w'gamiS"S started, Popular recent I g , a , m e s arealso h ighli i ight,edlj, with the re p~l,ay,avai i i l.a.b~eto watch and ~ I e , a l r n from Player profilesa nd re pla y s [ ca n a ls o be s ea rc he d. F r oz enSynapse also mak e s it q u '" ck a n d convenie1 [ . -" u t - . . . lts t-' F " lb ' k - - 'd T 'r tt ' . . -I", ..- ', .: r I', '1. " ' . .~ ' . ~ 'I " 1'1 . ," ,. ", . '1 . - - . .o expo resuns fO aceooox ano w l e r ~' O - " ' I r 'rep lays tn, '~OI~ ~ I T I ~ ~ l b " , G There ' I " I S - : ! I i w,gal~~. ': : ~ 1" "'~ CiI ~ _- _ VH:: IJI 1jJI: .~~ ~~ ~ ':_"~ .' ~,~ U~I[of infolrlmlat~on ,a.vaiil~abIe o nl iine at an y givetime,


20/20

e urns Aug s t 20 1

www.gamet lnne .com
http://www.gametlnne.com/http://www.gametlnne.com/

Indie Game - 2011 (Jul-Aug)

Documents

Transcript of Indie Game - 2011 (Jul-Aug)