jdodson1

Joined 01/23/2012
  Admin

I'm an Engineer and built the video game community Cheerful Ghost and text based mini-MMO Tale of the White Wyvern.

2753 Posts

Upcoming Starbound Patch Will Be Final Character Wipe
http://playstarbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Screenshot-2014-01-13-21.13.23.png
"Of course, there’s also the highly anticipated/possibly feared final character wipe– this patch contains a fix for save files so after this, you won’t need to worry about our patches destroying your characters or ships. This patch will wipe everything– characters, ships and worlds. It will definitely be the last time we’ll need to wipe characters or ships, and will hopefully be the last time we’ll need to wipe worlds."

Awesome bit of news. I really enjoy Starbound but don't like to have my character or ship wiped. That said this will be the last character wipe but there is also a possibility this will be the last planet wipe.

After the update are you going to dive in to the game or will you be waiting a bit longer?

http://playstarbound.com/info-about-the-upcoming-patch/

Rain World Kickstarts It's Way To Slugcat Survival
Back this on Kickstarter!
"Rain World is set in an abandoned industrial environment scourged by a shattered eco-system. Bone-crushing intense rain pounds the surface regularly, making life as we know it almost impossible. The creatures in this world hibernate most of the time, but in the few brief dry periods they go out searching for food.

You are a lonely nomadic slugcat, both predator and prey in this land. You must hunt enough food to survive another cycle of hibernation. Other - bigger - creatures have the same plan."

Rain World is a very interesting new Kickstarter project featuring Slugcat. I really appreciate the game score, visuals and overall tone of bleak world. Plus, you know, Slugcats are pretty awesome too.

The game just tipped over it's funding goal but if you want to see this game be made even more awesome, check it out on Kickstarter. Rain World is planning on shipoung on Windows, Mac and possibly Linux sometime this December.

Pulp Fiction In 8-Bit
If you have seen the Pulp Fiction film I recommend you watch the video above. Fun to see how the game might play out on the NES. I particularly liked how it went to a Dance, Dance Revolution type game with the club dancing scene. My only quip with the video is that Dick Dale's "Misirlou" doesn't really translate well to 8-bit.

Steam Controller Drops the Touchscreen For Physical Buttons
http://i.imgur.com/JNQoJBf.jpg
According a few developer attendees at Valve's Developer Days Conference the new Steam Controller is dropping the touch screen in favor of physical buttons. From the image it looks like a standard D-pad layout and ABXY layout.

I know touch is the new craze but the physical buttons seem like a good move. What do you think, do you like the new buttons or would you prefer a touchscreen?

http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/15/steam-controller-changes/

**addition**

Looks like Steam Machines will also support up to 16 controllers. Too bad, I was looking forward to 32 player game parties. Oh well.

http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/15/steam-controllers-support-16-simultaneous-connections-for-multipalyer-gaming/

Broken Age Part 1 Drops Early For Double Fine Backers
If you were a backer of the Double Fine Adventure or took part in a Double Fine Bundle that helped fund Broken Age, today you received your early access key. Double Fine has also released two trailers showing off the main characters from Broken Age. Broken Age intertwines these characters story and I can't wait to play the game and see how well they pull it off.

You should also watch Vela's trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuCErygUS_g&feature=share&list=UUQMxCuhm25CUS9MZKjZ2ihQ

Double Fine will release the concluding chapter of Broken Age later this year for everyone that purchases the game. Like all other Double Fine games, Broken Age is available on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Cowboys Vs Monsters: An Upcoming RTS Set in the Old West
Cowboys Vs Monsters is a really cool looking Indie RTS featuring... Cowboys. Still early in development, the game shows a ton of promise and I can't wait to get my hands on it. Not a ton of details have been released about the game so far, but from the video shown it looks very reminiscent of the Command and Conquer Red Alert with... Cowboys.

I am sure we can all expect a PC release and from the development blog it looks like it is running on an Android tablet as well. Wish them well and hope this game is playable in some form in 2014!

http://cowboysvsmonsters.tumblr.com/

Game/Show: Why Hasn't There Been Another Minecraft?
"We all know that Minecraft is huge! The overwhelming success of Minecraft undoubtedly surprised a lot of people given it's lo-fi graphics, fully open environment, and goal-less play. Yet, it has sold 33 million copies, and it's not just individual players who love it: it's in schools, and even the UN! The game's distinct qualities have made it a massive hit and critical darling, so you'd think it would have spawned tons of imitators. But it hasn't and we wondered why? Maybe the reason is that Minecraft isn't just a new game, but an actual paradigm-shifting invention!! Is this the case?"

As always a great video from Game/Show to start off 2014, that said I take a few points with it. First off Jamin doesn't seem to note Terraria, Starbound or Don't Starve as games that have come out post Minecraft. They also doesn't note games like Minetest that look to completely re-create Minecraft as free software.

If you look at the amount of games that have come after Minecraft, there is a clear trend to many of the elements that make Minecraft what it is. Survival and monsters coming out a night is being covered by Rust, Fortnite and Don't Starve. There are few new games where crafting and mining are the focus such as Starbound, Everquest Next and Steamworld Dig.

I sort of disagree with Jamin on this video as Minecraft has spawned many "Minecrafty" games as well as influenced other games core mechanics. Maybe none of them are as financially successful as Mojang's classic, but the genre is firmly established.

Steam Developer Days Posts Conference Schedule
http://media.steampowered.com/img/SDD/agenda_grid_2.png
After reading the Steam Developer Days agenda my desire to go to the event rose considerably. I hope the video from the talks is posted online because I would love to watch them all.

I do know of someone who is attending and I plan on talking with them about it. So I have that going for me, which is nice.

http://media.steampowered.com/img/SDD/agenda_grid_2.png

RetroLiberty & Traci Hines Review The SNES Classic Hook
Over the last year I have been enjoying watching the videos by YouTube sensation RetroLibery. Found his latest journey though the classic Super Nintendo game Hook to be particularly fun. Hook isn't a game I played much as lad but after watching this I wish I had. Not many video games made from film are good but a few on the Super Nintendo were. I particularly enjoyed Super Star Wars and always wanted to try Jurassic Park but heard it wasn't great.

That said RetroLibery's Hook review contains a mini-review of the film too so it's like a double rainbow neat. Drop a comment below with your thoughts on the Hook game or the film.

GOG.com Looks Back at 5 Years of DRM Free Games
"As a new year begins, and with 5 very successful years in the digital gaming market, GOG.com takes a look at its past."

I dig GOG's style as a company and wish them a happy 5 more years. It's a really easy site to navigate and when you find the game you want to buy, it's available DRM free. Many GOG.com titles come with digital art, game book PDF's and the game score which makes buying from GOG special. One of the reasons I picked up the Neverwinter Nights collection from GOG was to finally have Jeremy Soule's amazing score in my collection as I couldn't find it from any other source.