jdodson | Cheerful Ghost

The Firehose: Legend of Dungeon, Hammerwatch ++

Hammerwatch is now available for purchase on Steam for Mac, Windows and Linux. It will do your sould well to play this amazing new Indie Gauntlet styled hack n slash.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/239070
http://cheerfulghost.com/Travis/posts/1039

A game I have been crushing on recently has just come to Steam as pre-purchase. Take a swing at this beautiful new Rogue-like from the awesome dev duo Robot Loves Kitty.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/238280
http://cheerfulghost.com/jdodson/posts/1215

John Carmack gives a really insightful talk on the physics of light and rendering. More wisdom from the master of Doom himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG4QuTe8aUw

Sorry Mario Brothers is an interesting concept game where you play the Princess escaping Bowsers castle on your own. Personally I like seeing this sort of thing, she is magical and capable so why not?

http://www.thewildeternal.com/2013/07/30/sorry-mario-bros/

Battle.net Launcher Drops for Mac & Windows

Blizzard just opened up its new Battle.net client into open beta for anyone to test. I tried it out on my Mac and found the download and install to be a very simple process. The Battle.net client has a slick layout and is fantastic to use. I hope over time they keep the simplicity of it all.

"The new single sign-on functionality allows players to log in once to access World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, and the upcoming PC and Mac versions of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, and stay logged in for up to 30 days.

Players can also install games directly through the app and, if you choose to leave the app running on your desktop, keep them up-to-date automatically even while you’re away from your computer. Please note that it’s entirely up to you whether you wish to leave the app running—you can exit it at any time, and it will automatically re-launch whenever your standard launchers would. "

If you want to read more, check out the Blizzard post:

http://us.battle.net//d3/en/blog/10626946#best

If you just want to download the new client for testing:

https://us.battle.net/account/download/index.xml?show=bnetapp

Fez Is A Magical World Of Exploration

After news that Phil Fish decided to halt Fez 2 development, in a fit of angsty sorrow, I decided to play Fez for the first time. From the intro screen to the first swaths of gameplay and score, Fez is magic. So magical that if video games can be art, Fez pushes that discussion forward. How much higher praise can a game get than it gave me genuine feelings of joy and exploration?

I am not sure what I can say more about a game that was featured in Indie Game: The Movie as well as reviewed and Let's Played as much as Fez. The rotating camera gameplay coupled with gorgeous retro graphics are a delight. Each new area offers new rich visuals and the unique gameplay Phil Fish crams in each zone is incredible. And nothing beats experiencing it all for the first time.

So far, I have kept my play through spoiler and game guide free and have completed somewhere around 75% according to the game itself. I am not certain how to beat Fez, but I am sure when I come to it, i'll know. I am in no rush to beat the game but do plan on "getting gold" on each area I come to because somehow, it seems like an awesome thing to do.

beansmyname Supporter wrote on 08/14/2013 at 03:16pm

I picked this up recently after having seen Indie Game: The Movie. It's one of the few games I keep Windows installed (although the settings hint at a Humble version soon). I have only just begun playing but in the first ten minutes alone, the game brought several spontaneous smiles to this cranky gamer's face.

Fez is another of those games where screenshots fail to accurately capture the magic occurring onscreen. They fail to capture the depth that is revealed when transitioning between 2D planes. Nor do they show off the amazing level design when platforms that seemed so far away take on new form when shifted 90 degrees.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/15/2013 at 12:00am

Yeah, great point. Occasionally i'll just spin the world to get the depth of things and how it all works together. The lighting of Fez is also really good and I think its usage of shadows in later levels is something I haven't really experience much of, even in triple A shooters.

gmlawton wrote on 08/25/2013 at 01:35am

The fake glitches at the beginning and end blew my mind. Fez really is something special. The meta-puzzles are way over my head, but to me that just adds to the feeling that something really big is going on in the world.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/25/2013 at 06:47am

Agreed. I came to the part with the obelisk that repeats back your controls and wrote those down. Took me forever to realize you have to do the codes from look at them from the right.

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Wolfenstein: The New Order QuakeCon Interview

Jens Matthies of Machinegames gave a pretty interesting interview at QuakeCon about the upcoming Wolfenstein: The New Order. The video showcases some of the stuff we can expect from the game. Some of the video footage shows off BJ scaling a wall to the top of a building one hand on a rope while the other is spent killin' Nazis. As BJ scales the building a plane epically crashes into it and since nothing seems to stop him, he just keeps climbing.

The video also shows off a cool new stealth takedown mechanic new to Wolfenstein. Wolfenstein: The New Order will allow both a run and gun and stealth style of gameplay.

The difficulty modes in The New Order will mirror those in Wolfenstein 3D. So get ready to select from "Can I play, Daddy?", "Don't hurt me.", "Bring 'em on!" or "I am Death incarnate!" It seems many people really enjoyed the challenging 1999 mode in BioShock Infinite so heres to hoping "I am Death incarnate!" ups the ante!

As to the million dollar question of if Hitler will make an appearance Jens noted that "Hitler is not in this game.... That's all i'll say on this topic I think." I wonder if that means there will be a sequel or DLC or Hitler's head on a robot as with Wolfenstein 3D?

I am a huge fan of Wolfenstein and can't wait for Machinegames epic take on this universe to drop in 2014. Are you interested in killing some Nazis or will you skip this one?

Video Game History: Space Invaders

"In 1977 the video game market was flooded with clones of the game 'Pong.' 'Pong' released in 1972 had been such a huge hit that many other game companies had tried to produce there own versions of the game."

To celebrate today's retro Tuesday I decided to share a video about the history of Space Invaders. Space Invaders is a classic game I mostly played on the Atari 2600. It was re-imagined by the people that made it in 2006 as Space Raiders which was a pretty fun take on the formula.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Raiders_(video_game)

Your Questions: Ronimo / Awesomenauts Interview

Hey everyone.

I recently contacted Romino Games to interview them about Awesomenauts and all manner of awesomery and they agreed to do it. If you have any questions you want to submit for the interview toss em' into this post. I am going to close submissions the evening of August 14th to ship them to Romino, so ensure you get them in before then.

Happy 'nauting!

NPR Tiny Desk Concert Featuring Jim Guthrie

"Guthrie and his band drove 18 hours round-trip from Ontario just to perform three songs behind the desk of NPR Music's Bob Boilen. Watch them perform some of the wistful and infectious highlights from Guthrie's new album, Takes Time."

Its a great 3 song set featuring "A Difference a Day Makes," "Before and After" & "Like a Lake."

Jim Guthrie is the composer behind the music of Sword & Sworcery, Indie Game: The Movie and the upcoming game Below. He also recently released his entire catalog on the Humble Weekly sale and his new album "Takes Time" was part of that.

http://www.npr.org/event/music/210523884/jim-guthrie-tiny-desk-concert

CG Roundtable Ep 2. The Internet Hate Factory

With the recent news of Phil Fish closing down development of Fez 2 and quitting gaming we focus our Roundtable on "The Internet Hate Factory." Is it ok for people to actively act against others online or should cooler heads prevail? Do people need to develop a thicker skin or should be all be more nice?

We discuss that and the games we are playing as well as a few fun bits, like Travis building an Internet Hate Site focused directly at me, jdodson.

show notes:

Phil Fish closes down Fez 2 Development:

http://cheerfulghost.com/jdodson/posts/1498

Phil Fish and Jonathan Blow talk about Japanese Video Games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD9P2uyx6fQ

Jon Carmack Responds to a question about Indie Games (start at 28.37m):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcnsJMMsRYk

GeoCities, an old portal for making website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoCities

Doom as a "murder simulator" (search for murder simulator on the page):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(video_game)

Travis Admin wrote on 08/12/2013 at 03:57am

Coming soon: jondodsonisapoopyhead.tumblr.com

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/12/2013 at 04:06am

Damn you Travis!!!!

*Shakes Fist*

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 07:43am

Wow, Travis, you mentioned Duke Nukem Forever! I agree with you, it's not all that great. I did play through it, but it didn't appeal to me as greatly as Duke Nukem 3D did. I've thought about trading in Forever, but I know I won't get much back on it.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 07:55am

LOLing @ Travis!!!

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 01/25/2014 at 07:58am

Thanks, guys for quoting Will Wheaton. If only the rest of the Internet could follow that one simple piece of advice.

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New Starbound Biome Demo Video

Very pretty biome showcase video. Can't wait for this to drop.

Travis Admin wrote on 08/12/2013 at 12:35am

I love the constant updates from Chucklefish, but it's so torturous.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/12/2013 at 04:07am

Right, I agree. That said, looks like the game is coming along nicely!

Jacob_Richardson wrote on 08/13/2013 at 02:57am

I figured you posted about this so I dropped by to comment. Even though it was meant as a showcase it was almost a full trailer. It doesn't really show much of the gameplay, but somehow it really captured me with the atmosphere. Which I think is in great part to the amazing soundtrack song Atlas. Yesterdays update was probably the best one ever posted. Seeing and hearing how a game comes together over time is a special treat to those who enjoy what goes into making them.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/13/2013 at 05:10pm

I agree, I really enjoy watching the game progress too. I really hope the end product feels and plays as well as it looks! I think the music does work well with the visuals to build a world I want to exist in.

Can't say this enough but hoping for a beta as soon as the game is ready :D

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The Firehose: Wolfenstein, BioShock, Fez 2 & More

Wolfenstein The New Order has been delayed till 2014. A few reasons they cite are porting it to the PS4 and XBox One and making sure everything is well polished.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/08/01/wolfenstein-the-new-order-delayed-until-2014/

BioShock Infinite sales pass 4 million. The name was seemingly revenue prophetic.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/30/bioshock-infinite-sales-pass-4-million/

Cliff Bleszinski, game designer extrodonaire recently posted on his blog to Phil Fish about cancelling Fez 2. Good to see rational arguments surface in this debate.

http://dudehugespeaks.tumblr.com/post/56805389679/dynamite-fishing-an-open-letter-to-phil-fish

PixelJunk Monsters Ultimate will come to Steam August 26th. Now if we could get all console exclusives ported to PC!

http://store.steampowered.com/app/243780/

Travis Admin wrote on 08/11/2013 at 02:36am

I love that post from Cliffy B. He really hits the nail on the head.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/11/2013 at 09:05pm

Yep, he does. I even agree with him about the media part, really no one owes anyone anything. I mean, yeah id love all access to everyone but that's just not how it should work.

beansmyname Supporter wrote on 08/14/2013 at 03:39pm

Cliff's letter to Phil was a most amazing thing to read. Cliff Bleszinski is a true legend, a journeyman and extremely outspoken.

When I first read that Cliffy B had left the industry, I experienced a moment of bittersweet elation. Talented, creative geniuses like that don't do well when in corporate environments where profit is king, perception is reality and the game is just marketable product. It was much like hearing the news that Oddworld Inhabitants was closing shop and there would be no end to the Quintology right after the release of Stranger's Wrath.

Cliff's right that the designers and developers of games don't owe us anything but a quality game built with a love for the game and the gamers that will play it.

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jdodson1

2757 Posts

The Firehose: Legend of Dungeon, Hammerwatch ++

Battle.net Launcher Drops for Mac & Windows

Fez Is A Magical World Of Exploration

Wolfenstein: The New Order QuakeCon Interview

Video Game History: Space Invaders

Your Questions: Ronimo / Awesomenauts Interview

NPR Tiny Desk Concert Featuring Jim Guthrie

CG Roundtable Ep 2. The Internet Hate Factory

New Starbound Biome Demo Video

The Firehose: Wolfenstein, BioShock, Fez 2 & More