KwikLook Blog

GAME > Hellarious (Ian Jones)

2010-07-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hellarious is another entry into Game Jolt’s recent contest. This one is a demake of another hit indie title, Canabalt. Yes, a very high profile game to demake but Hellarious does the job admirably. Instead of being on rooftops, this one-button platformer takes place in hell. You face fireballs, dropping stalactites (hell must be made of limestone) and lava in your quest to race as far as you can before coming to an inevitable and occasionally unfair death. The best side of the game is its addictiveness; the design makes you feel like you can do a bit better every time you die and the online highscores offers more replay value. Graphically, the game is a tad poor and the platforms, especially, look a little rusty. The optional iPhone border looks fairly mismatched but it’s an amusing parody of the Canabalt game found on its home page. If you’re playing this to have fun, the hellish (hur hur) visuals shouldn’t put you off. And the background music, titled ‘Falling Demons’, is all too apt.

DOWNLOAD HELLARIOUS

GAME > Sulkeis (Ryan Langewisch)

2010-07-12T09:22:00.001-07:00

Sulkeis is a ‘demake’ of the popular 2003 GameMaker game, Seiklus, as indicated by the game’s title. Unlike the original, which took six months to develop, this was created in less than a week. Basically, it’s a much more straightforward take on the exploration concept explored in Seiklus, while holding some of the memorable parts of the original game, including the large plants and the small coloured objects which must be collected to unlock the door to reach the finale. The graphics follow suit, with much more lower resolution sprites, though they still hark back to the colourful flowing environments of Seiklus. Sulkeis is near faultless, only with drawbacks like the reported small glitches and the occasionally frustrating level design. There are also some nice tunes to be heard, varying from area to area. This brilliant adventure has a great chance of being awarded in Game Jolt’s ‘Indie Game Demake’ contest.

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INTERVIEW > David Scatliffe

2009-12-17T11:06:00.001-08:00

David Scatliffe is a fairly well-known GM developer, having been in the indie spotlight on numerous occasions, including cactus’ play through of his game, Up a Lazy Ocean, at the GDC. He’s known for his unique creations, which you can play over at Scattle Ware.

Okay, so who are you?
I'm David Scatliffe, a 16 year old independent game developer, and professional slacker. I try to incorporate a quirky gameplay mechanic into most of my games, but sometimes, I make fan games of other indie masterpieces.

How long have you been using GameMaker?
I've been using Game Maker for about 3 years. In some respects, I am still horrible at GML.

What are your thoughts regarding GM8?
To tell you the truth, I know absolutely nothing about Game Maker 8, except for the new included option to use a .PNG image for a sprite, and have it not look like utter garbage. I'm interested if GM8 will have more d3d functions, so I can port Cool Men and make it look even better.

How about the new logo? Do you have an opinion on that?
To tell you the truth, I know absolutely nothing about Game Maker 8, except for the new included option to use a .PNG image for a sprite, and have it not look like utter garbage. I'm interested if GM8 will have more d3d functions, so I can port Cool Men and make it look even better.

Do you think being an active member of The Poppenkast has an effect on the games you create?
I think being a member in the Poppenkast has it's advantages. The (weekly? monthly?) competitions give me a bit of inspiration, and three of what I consider to be my best games have all been created for those competitions, so, I think that's a sign of some sort.

What do you consider to be your best creation to date?
I'd have to say that one of my earlier games, Up a Lazy Ocean is one of my best creations, mostly because I'm so proud of it. UaLO won the Poppenkast competition that it was entered in, and it was featured in Cactus' lecture for the Indie Games Summit at GDC (which I still brag to my friends about). Not to mention that, it's the first of my games to actually keep my older brother playing for more than thirty seconds.

So how did Duum Mashine come about?
A couple of weeks back, I was doodling in my sketchbook, thinking of potential game ideas, when for no reason whatsoever I drew a giant lazer turret of some sort. I remember near the corner of the paper was a circular shaped monster, which reminded me of the sun. Then the idea hit me, to make an awesome arcade game with a somewhat environmental message, that isn't shoved in your face.

What made you opt to go with a messy graphical style?
To be honest, the style is just me being lazy. I wanted to make the game with pretty, pretty pixel art, so at first, I started doodling each of the components to see what they might look like. The doodles themselves ended up looking pretty good, so I animated them and tossed them in the game, with kindergarten-styled dotted lines in the background.

Looking back, are you impressed with what you produced?
Yes, I think I am... Although I'd like to come up with more enemies later down the line, to make the game a bit more varied.

Which characteristic of Duum Mashine do you think players are most attracted to?
I think players are probably drawn to the style of the game, either because they can associate themselves with the doodle imagery, or simply because it looks odd.

Have you got any more projects in development?
Why, yes I do! I'm currently working on Scattleware 2, Cool Men, Scattle Gallery, and a flash port of Constellation Chaos. I'm pretty busy these days...

Sounds awesome. So, do you see yourself using GM for much longer, or do you have other plans?
In the future I plan to try XNA or C++ so I can hopefully put my games on Xbox Live Indie Games, Playstation Network, or Wiiware.

Thanks for giving us a great insight, David. Would you like to say anything else?
To all those early Game Maker developers, always use 60 frames per second, and give non-generic games a chance.

VISIT DAVID’S WEBSITE

GAME > Puke! 2 (Zack Banack)

2009-12-17T03:02:00.001-08:00

Puke! 2 is a fluid shooter to sequel an old game of Zack’s. Well, I say shooter, but I mean, er... puker. See, the aim of the game is to basically vomit all over the enemies, hence destroying them (must be acidic puke) and increasing your score (online leaderboard). Of course the enemies do everything they can to stop this happening, throwing varieties of bullet arrangements for you to shun. The visuals are very flowing and the small details help put together a nice arena scene. The colours seem well balanced, however the background and the bullet colours can frequently clash, resulting in frustration and injustice to the player. The music is well chosen, but I would’ve liked to see more audio interactivity with events on-screen, such as explosive sound effects when explosions occur; y’know, that sort of thing. Overall, it’s another fun abstract game from Banack.

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GAME > Legs (Daray Manning)

2009-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

Legs is a (very) short and simple precision platformer where the protagonist appears to have lost his arms. You must tackle eleven levels, with the character’s only abilities being to walk and jump (with his legs) in order to find these misplaced limbs. The inspiration from You Probably Won’t Make It is evident, with similar colours and aesthetics used throughout. The game is generally a fun time-waster, although there is a particularly frustrating problem – the player seems to glitch with the wall and bounce off it almost every time. This ends up as the most challenging aspect of the platformer, which is not a good thing. The graphics are suitably basic, but I’m not totally convinced why the developer decided to make the screen size so tiny. While the music matches the general feel, it was highly repetitive with such a short looping time and alas there were no sound effects to be heard. Overall, Legs is a good platformer; it just needed that something more to be great.

DOWNLOAD LEGS

GAME > Duum Mashine (David Scatliffe)

2009-12-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

Duum Mashine is an original arcade game from no other than David Scatliffe (also known as Scattle). The game seems to have a serious pragmatic message associated with using solar energy, reinforced by the fact that you only earn points by gaining energy and not by destroying the rapidly approaching enemies with your crazy laser gun. The ironically low efficiency of the gun means you’ll be desperately scavenging for more power from the wandering sun, while the enemies get more and more demanding to deal with. The graphics bear a messy but consistent style, which symbolize the works of a small child; this nicely fits in with the unrealistic premise of Duum Mashine as well as the childish title. John Marwin’s music fits with the gameplay very well (it’s head-nodding worthy) to round off a great experience, even if it may be a little short-lived (more content would’ve been welcomed). Show off your skills (or lack of) on the online leaderboard.

DOWNLOAD DUUM MASHINE

GAME > Rainbow Planet 2.1 (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-12-14T03:08:00.001-08:00

Rainbow Planet 2.1 is a speedy-paced shooter with glorious graphical effects that stake a part in the gameplay. You play as a colourful square which appears to ooze some kind of bubbles when you hold down the mouse button. The aim of the game is to last as long as you can by shooting down (or dodging) the enemies. Your score constantly decreases, so keeping on the move is a must. Andrew has cleverly incorporated the controls so that you have to move towards to the enemies to shoot them – this puts a little risk in the air, although it can be somewhat wearisome. The visuals stand out more than anything in Rainbow Planet 2.1. If you compare it to the original Rainbow Planet, you’ll see how much the developer has sharpened his skills. While the exaggerated effects can disable your vision, they add a lot to the experience. The music is also fabulous – it’s not repetitive and it sounds very fitting. But perhaps the most fascinating part is the fact that the game is synced with a Twitter account which posts the leader of the high score leaderboard every time there’s a new player at the top.

DOWNLOAD RAINBOW PLANET 2.1

GAME > Psychedelic Zombie Assault (Gideon Simons)

2009-10-29T03:29:00.001-07:00

Psychedelic Zombie Assault is a short and simple shooter (made for Gideon's own competition), where you play as an unknown protagonist who finds himself in a sinister dungeon-like arena. Using the mouse, you must shoot rapidly oncoming hordes of zombies (yes, zombies...) while a strategic dynamic is added amid the emerging lasers destroying anything in their path. Some more arena designs and a wider variety of enemies and traps would have improved the gameplay side, although making it more complex could ruin the fun to be had. The juddering graphics remind me of those found in Virtual Silence and the dark, minimalistic style fits the setting nicely. The game features one appropriate soundtrack and a number of sound effects to reflect the actions on screen. Overall, this is another momentary yet well-made shooter from Gideon; a great excuse to waste a few minutes.

DOWNLOAD PSYCHEDELIC ZOMBIE ASSAULT

GAME > StopHappyMonsters (Gideon Simons)

2009-10-28T14:32:00.001-07:00

StopHappyMonsters is an exceptionally demanding horizontal shooter with basic but well-worked and appealing visuals. You must obliterate wave after wave of (satisfyingly) bouncy ball-like monsters, interrupted by larger bosses which take the game to an even harder level. A subtle but nifty feature determines the direction of each bullet by the current momentum in the ship. This cleverly decreases the number of keys needed, making way for a brilliantly uncomplicated control system (in stark contrast to the game’s difficulty). The simple graphics work very nicely and the fine range of colours reflect the cheerful, carefree mood, much like the apposite music and sound effects. Online highscores would have been a good addition, but maybe I’m asking too much from a quickly developed game. This thoroughly fun shoot-‘em-up was made for the third GMG mini-competition and will undoubtedly stand an excellent chance.

DOWNLOAD STOPHAPPYMONSTERS

GAME > Mouse No. Probably a Rat. (David Scatliffe)

2009-10-27T09:31:00.001-07:00

Mouse No. Probably a Rat. is a stylish parody of Squid Yes! Not so Octopus!, with many noticeable similarities to the shooter. You (probably) play as a rat that must dodge around the arena speedily, avoiding the relentless enemies that appear from nowhere in large groups. Survival is very difficult – the online leaderboard was a good idea, increasing replayability. The graphics and effects are well worked and consistent, especially for the short time the shooter was developed in. Audio is also aptly stylish to round off a thoroughly fun experience that fits the theme of the competition it was created for. All arcade fans will enjoy it.

DOWNLOAD MOUSE NO. PROBABLY A RAT.

GAME > Milo Applequest (Darkleo)

2009-10-23T09:42:00.001-07:00

Milo Applequest is a cute and composed platformer set in an attractive kingdom - Applekingdom. You play the role of a chirpy racoon who must collect a lot (and I mean a lot) of apples from the kidnapping hands of the Evil Spirit of Forests. There are over thirty levels embracing this polished experience, of which there are four types – variety sure is nice. These visually lush stages are all accessible from a nicely designed ‘hub’ where you can enter each level after collecting certain amounts of gold apples; these serve as the main game objective. The gameplay feels quite slow but measured, with well thought out level design offering an enjoyable overall feel, although this game is not for action-only enthusiasts. The graphics are perhaps the finest aspect, although the creator has openly admitted that he didn’t make them – a shame, indeed. I’m not much for the repetitive use of the main typeface, but it does match the feel nicely. The music and sound effects are also very fitting for the style of the game. If you’re a fan of platformers, typically from Nintendo, you’ll probably enjoy this.

DOWNLOAD MILO APPLEQUEST

GAME > Angry Gorilla Machine Monsters (Andrew Brophy)

2009-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Angry Gorilla Machine Monsters is a trademark Andrew Brophy shoot-‘em-up, where you typically play as some kind of ship shooting down a bunch of ugly enemies that appear in a periodic configuration. Because enemy emergences are generated randomly, you’ll have to play through the game a number of times to experience them all, especially since it’s so hard (touch a bullet and it’s game over). As customary, the visuals are the focal point, with an array of gorgeous effects to compliment the fluid gameplay. A nifty high scores table shows that quite a bit of effort has been put into development, even if it does seem to end before it's really begun. The music (courtesy of John Marwin) is perfectly apt for the high tempo and feels on par with the other facets of the shooter; there are no complaints to be made. Play Angry Gorilla Machine Monsters if you want a quick burst of optical niceness.

DOWNLOAD ANGRY GORILLA MACHINE MONSTERS

GAME > RunMan: Race Around the World (Matt Thorson & Tom Sennett)

2009-10-21T10:40:00.001-07:00

RunMan: Race Around the World makes me want to smile. It’s a true example of what an indie game should be. The enthralling platformer puts you at the helm of a small yellow star named RunMan and, as you may have guessed, he likes to run. The game’s story tells of an event – a race around the world. Alas, RunMan’s apprehensive challengers do one before it has even begun. This leaves RunMan with the trophy, but he decides to rightfully earn his victory and run around the world anyway. The game will have you literally dashing, crashing and bouncing through intricately designed stages – if you’re good at it, the experience will flow effortlessly. And if you’re not, there’s always the fact that you can’t die. The amount of content is rather comprehensive – more than thirty-five action-packed levels are there waiting to be shattered (and all accessed via a nifty world map) including a number of bosses that add an (much needed) extra challenge, and I’m yet to mention there are collectible medals as well as saveable ghost runs. The graphics are perhaps the seemingly primary characteristic and will instantly catch your eye. The messy MS Paint-esque design really fits the laid back approach, working very effectively. The comprehensive collection of folk, blues and jazz music is just as pleasant, reinforcing a uniquely comical style that you’ll instantly fall in love with. Simply put, if you don’t play this game, you’re insane.

DOWNLOAD RUNMAN: RACE AROUND THE WORLD

INTERVIEW > Liam Berry

2009-10-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Liam Berry is a promising GameMaker user, with a few good games now under his belt. His recent offering, Swing 2, bagged him $20 in the GameCOG ‘Explosions’ competition, while his graphical talent helped make ChimpVenture popular with the community. Liam has a website which covers most of his work, ranging from art to music.

Please tell us about yourself.
My name is Liam Berry. I live in Manitoba, Canada. I've played the piano for over eight years, and will hopefully start learning to play the violin next Saturday (October 24th), although I only started composing songs about two years ago. Oh, and I'm 14 years old. That's it, I guess.

When did you start experimenting with GameMaker? Did you admire its ease of use?
I really started making games when my Dad attempted to get me and my older brother ("Drazzke") interested in making games. We found a program, "RPG Maker", and used that a bit, but soon got bored of it. We searched around again about a year later (About early 2006), and found "GameMaker". I didn't really use it much, however - I was eleven, and to be honest, I just wanted to play Zelda. My older brother, Drazzke, used it a lot, and I only got interested in making games in early 2007, and even then, I was only making graphics, and didn't really consider the games to be partnerships between Drazzke and I, but that I was just making the graphics for Drazzke's games. This view changed around summer 2007, though, when we actually realized (or I did anyway) that the games we made were mine just as much as his.

I started attempting to make games on my own around Fall 2007, but never really finished anything until Swing. Now, when I get inspiration for a project, I really try to follow it through to the end. It probably also helps that I don't have all that many ideas, and it takes me a while to think up new ones, so I don't really get distracted and leave projects to work on new ideas, thus never really finishing anything, which I know happens to many developers.

What do you think of the new upcoming version of GM?
I'm pretty excited about it. I think YYG is doing a great job with it, and that it's a pretty big step up from version 7.

Is it helpful to have a brother who also uses GameMaker?
Yes. It helps a lot.

You seem to be very capable with the visual side of things. Do you have any tips?
Practice. I know everyone says it, but honestly, it's good advice. It helped me.

You appear to be most active at GameCOG.net. What draws you to that community?
Well, for one, I don't enjoy hanging out in giant communities like the GMC, where you don't know people aside from those who have ten thousand posts. I prefer to spend my time in smaller communities, where you actually know the people posting and there's a greater sense of community. Also, it was made by my brother, so . . . well . . . yeah.

Where did the inspiration to create Swing and eventually Swing 2 come from?
Well, for Swing, I felt like making a game, and I like SHMUPS, but I wanted to add a unique twist to it - and after brainstorming for a bit, I thought up the idea of Swing. I later found out that Cactus had already made a game with the same idea, but I didn't know about that until after I had made Swing.

For Swing 2, when the third GameCOG competition was announced, and I noticed that it was themed "Explosions", I decided that another Swing game with really big explosions would be fun enough and would fit enough to enter, so I made it. I wasn't really expecting it to win third place, though.

Did anybody help out with development? Your brother, maybe?
Well, Drazzke helped out quite a bit with Swing, but for Swing 2, he just got the online highscores table working, and didn't let me give him credit for it.

Were you pleased with the way Swing 2 turned out?
Yes, I was. I felt that I had done a much better job with it than I had with Swing, especially on the music . . .

What do you think is the best aspect of the game?
Hmm . . . Well, I suppose the graphics. I've always been better at graphics than other parts of game development.

What did you think your chances were in the GameCOG 'Explosions' competition, prior to the results?
I thought I had pretty good chances at being a runner-up, and maybe even getting third place (Yes, I'm full of myself), but was still pretty surprised at the results (Third place & First GameMold Choice Award).

Will you ever get around to creating Swing 3?
I don't know. I don't have any plans for it.

Do you have any more releases lined up?
I have a platform-exploration game (working title "Walk") I'm working on, and a platform-exploration-shooter that I'm making with Drazzke, but asides from that, nope.

Thanks for the chance to talk to you. Would you like to say anything more?
You're welcome, and thank you, for conducting this interview! Cheers!

VISIT LIAM’S WEBSITE

GAME > Colorion (Zack Banack)

2009-10-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Colorion is a colourful retro-styled shooter with straightforward gameplay. You must dodge around the arena taking out the multitude of enemies and collecting power-ups, while everything gets progressively harder. When your health reaches zero, you can submit your final score to the online high score leaderboard. The graphical effects are arguably the main focus of this simple arcade shooter, with abundant multi-coloured visuals. While some effects do hamper your vision, they create a unique feel and make it more than just an ordinary arena-based shoot-‘em-up. The retro sound effects and music go well with the graphics to create a fun shooter that’ll occupy a few minutes of your time.

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GAME > Baghead Bandit (Alex Schacher)

2009-10-11T09:41:00.001-07:00

Baghead Bandit is Alex Schacher’s debut game, where you play as a boy with a bag on his head. The aim of the game is to save the protagonist’s girlfriend from the evil Dr Plastik (yes, there’s a little humour) by trawling through the forty levels, collecting a jewel in each one. In all, there are seven areas to beat, with the map bearing similarities to that of the Super Mario Bros. series. Compared to many GameMaker games, Baghead Bandit is easy, with a lack of challenge and generally stuff to do (quite Seiklus-like in that respect). While this can allow repetitiveness to creep in, it’s nice to see a platformer forgiving to mistakes. As well as the wealth of levels, there is a timed mode and secret levels throughout, which should keep you playing for longer than the average GM game. The visuals are well-sprited and remain consistent, even with the numerous areas. An assortment of fitting audio tracks is included, allowing the game to flow smoothly. On the other hand, I feel that some of the sound effects sound slightly misplaced. Overall, it’s a relaxing platformer and a great first attempt at game development from Alex.

DOWNLOAD BAGHEAD BANDIT

GAME > Mailure (Ahmed Hassan)

2009-10-10T13:49:00.001-07:00

Mailure is a fun arcade experience, where you take the role of a naughty schoolboy who wishes to prevent letters written by his principal reaching his mother. The concept sounds simple, but Ahmed has made it anything but that. The main aim is to knock out passing postmen before stealing the letters and throwing these in the sole waste bin, all with an unnecessarily complex control system. And it doesn’t help that the ‘How to Play?’ explanation is quite awfully written. The three platform levels, which are accessible by using the tiresomely positioned ladder, make this more challenging than need be. However, the pretty pixel graphics are pleasant to the eye and the light choice of colour reflects the mood of the game very well. The letter animations are well designed, but after a while become tedious and overused; an option to toggle the speed of said animations would be nice. The music doesn’t really fit with the graphical style, but it’s a catchy tune and monotony is surprisingly minimal. Overall, it’s an entertaining arcade platformer with cute visual feedback.

DOWNLOAD MAILURE

GAME > Pixel Switch (Noel Berry)

2009-09-23T03:25:00.001-07:00

Pixel Switch is a small platformer with an interesting (while familiar) gimmick, where the character can’t jump, yet you’re able to flip gravity as many times as needed. Through each of the twelve levels you’ll use this gimmick incessantly in order to avoid touching anything red before reaching the door. Disappointingly, the engine is a little glitchy. This setback becomes a real pain at times, but hopefully can be ironed out in an update (some more (challenging) levels would be nice, too). The pixel graphics are quite cute and aptly simple, creating a fun environment for the game, however the lack of decoration on the corner of the platforms makes the two-day development period evident. Effects are minimal, but are appropriate when used. In terms of audio, Pixel Switch features a cheerful soundtrack which feels right for the mood of the game as well as some simple sound effects to keep the experience flowing. Overall, Pixel Switch is a fun bout of platforming, save the tiny niggles.

DOWNLOAD PIXEL SWITCH

GAME > Soda Pop (Andrew Brophy)

2009-09-21T04:50:00.001-07:00

Soda Pop is yet another shoot-‘em-up by Andrew Brophy, which feels rather similar to one of his recent creations, Scraap. Right from the off, you’ll be frantically dodging colourful waves of enemies (interestingly, in the form of rotating letters) at the same time as shooting as many of them as possible. Combo scoring adds a strategical dynamic that makes the game more than brainless shooting (although that’s probably what you’ll do…). Again, the graphics are the attention-grabber with many visual techniques used to make it look as abstract as possible. The music is nice to listen to and fits the gameplay style, matching the tempo very well too. Only two sound effects are included, but a shooter of this simplicity needs no more. If you normally enjoy Andrew’s shoot-‘em-up offerings, you’ll likely find Soda Pop a pleasure to play.

DOWNLOAD SODA POP

GAME > Atomic Blast (qrleon)

2009-09-15T05:21:00.001-07:00

Atomic Blast is an action-packed platformer originally intended to be a full clone of Destructivator. Playing as a guy with a gun, you face just about every type of enemy or obstacle you could think of. The extensive range of impediments makes way for some really interesting (and challenging) levels, of which there are twelve, with a boss battle in the last. The game engine is very smooth unlike many platformers where simply jumping from ledge to ledge can become frustrating, and the graphics are well sprited and especially consistent in style, even if the loading image is a little ugly. The blood spurting animation was to my particular liking, adding a spell of comedy to the experience. The melodic piano-styled music is fitting and the sound effects give good feedback to what is happening on-screen. If you like platformers and shooting, you should download Atomic Blast right now.

DOWNLOAD ATOMIC BLAST

GAME > It Only Takes a Second (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-09-11T04:39:00.001-07:00

It Only Takes a Second is an atmospheric 3D platformer with a clever concept. Playing as a time bomb, you must bounce through each level before finishing it with only one second left. The catch is that you can’t see what number the timer is on, except when the number which is present on the bomb turns green, after which you can count down manually to determine when to complete the level. The physics are very tricky to master and putting one foot wrong can mean disaster. A clear annoyance is the arguably overused wall jump; while this is a fairly clever feature used to increase the difficulty and strategy needed, it becomes very tedious and downright maddening, particularly once you get to the comparatively long levels. However, there is a video guide (though it would have been nice for it to actually be included in the game…) that goes through the basics of IOTAS in detailed fashion. There are a total of twenty levels; five in each of the four environments (with even more specific rules for each one), making this a pretty comprehensive game if you consider the ‘SPEEDRUN’ mode as well as the high amount of online functionality. The 3D visuals are very nice and fading the walls out to black worked well, creating an intimidating feeling, ideal for the objective of the game. Something that definitely stands out is the creative menu, which entices you to play on and gives good visual feedback. There’s no music in-game, because of the need to count ticks, but where necessary, there’s always sound to account for your needs. If you can take frustration, you should definitely give this Game Jolt ‘Axioms’ competition entrant (Andrew’s second) a play through.

DOWNLOAD IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND

GAME > Broken Cave Robot (Matt Thorson)

2009-09-10T05:00:00.001-07:00

Broken Cave Robot is another adventure platformer created for Ludum Dare 15. You’re given five minutes to explore a cavern labyrinth, until the robot-protagonist’s battery runs out. Throughout the quest, there are two main things you should aim to find and collect – gems and power-ups (‘climbing gloves’, for example); the time limit works well with these objectives, pressurising the player into making quick decisions, such as which path to choose. A particularly interesting feature ties in with the story of the robot – the normally clichéd map used to keep track of your position must be hand-drawn (or mouse-drawn rather). This is one of a number of elements that makes this platformer seem so intricate and well-structured, setting it out from other games in the genre. The graphics are simple, but what I really like is the way shadows and the lack of light is used to affect the gameplay. Audio-wise, Broken Cave Robot is very minimal and I don’t think the music effectively matched the visual style, nevertheless perhaps I’m being unfair to pick out negatives in what is a platformer you must try out.

DOWNLOAD BROKEN CAVE ROBOT

GAME > Beacon (Chevy Ray Johnston)

2009-09-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Beacon is an eerie platform game where you must keep the familiar-looking protagonist (reminds me of the male character in Pokémon Ruby…) within close proximity of the moving beacon, or a bright crystal, while trekking through the deserted cave. This interesting concept gives way for some really neat ideas (too many for me to go through), while Chevy gradually increases the challenge waiting in every level. The graphics… well, what can I say? They’re pretty remarkable, and even more so if you consider the fact they were developed in only two days. Everything appeared pretty flawless, even with the fabulous effects; I’m particularly impressed with the smooth character movement, interaction (with the water especially) and animation. The howling background ambience greatly adds to the dark feel of the experience, with the occasional sound effect to emphasise the mysterious atmosphere. Beacon was originally created in only 48 hours (for the 15th Ludum Dare); quite outstanding bearing in mind the graphical polish and the emotional detail behind the game. You absolutely must give this gem a go.

DOWNLOAD BEACON

MAGAZINE > GMTech Issue 17

2009-09-05T02:36:00.001-07:00

Issue 17 is GMTech’s newest offering, coming three months after their previous release. Issues are now taking noticeably longer to produce, but the quality still remains in pretty much the only GM magazine left worth talking about. This edition sees a wealth of exclusives, including an insight into ArcMagi, a fantastic-looking commercial GameMaker game, in development by Thomas Grochowiak and his team. This was a very interesting article to read and genuinely adds a lot of value to this issue. There are also a number of fascinating articles, as well as the usual game reviews and an insight into the development of Innoquous 3, which I found particularly appealing. As we’ve come to expect, the magazine’s design is very aesthetically pleasing and the layout feels on par with professional standards. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the next issue and GMTech’s third anniversary (a superb achievement).

READ GMTECH ISSUE 17

GAME > Mail Madness (Homunculus)

2009-09-04T01:45:00.001-07:00

Now I know why we learn maths at school – it’s so we can play Mail Madness! This polished puzzler is a fresh-looking variation of the classic game, Bejeweled (reminding me of Da’ Numba from KewlBox.com). Basically, you select adjacent stamps that each carry a value to make the total equal that of the waiting letter. When that happens, another letter appears, you gain time and points (depending on the amount of stamps used) and more stamps fall into the playing field. The game ends when you run out of the ever-reducing time limit, and after you can upload your score to the online highscore leaderboard. Mail Madness is very nicely presented, with consistently slick visuals, a comprehensible ‘How to Play’ explanation and nice effects (the use of default GM message boxes is an exception). The music fits the general style and the sound effects compliment it, giving for a very pleasant-sounding experience. Even if Mail Madness is a little quick and reasonably simple, it’s a great casual game for anyone with a busy lifestyle.

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GAME > The Widescreen SHMUP (Jan Willem Nijman)

2009-09-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

The Widescreen SHMUP is a shooter with a 16:9 ratio screen size. Quite definitely. Measuring only sixteen pixels wide and nine pixels in height, it’s the smallest game I’ve ever had the joy of playing. While it is a joke of sorts, The Widescreen SHMUP’s still fun to play (as long as you have a magnifying glass or a very low resolution). Using the directional keys, you direct an involuntarily firing ship to destroy anything that appears on screen. If not, you’ll experience death – in the form of a number. The audio is average, but of course it’s the joke that makes this game. Play it for laughs and you should appreciate it.

DOWNLOAD THE WIDESCREEN SHMUP

GAME > The Hilarity of Murder (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-09-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

The Hilarity of Murder is Andrew McCluskey’s latest shooter offering, created using the ‘Lite’ version of GameMaker. You must venture through a top-down ‘fake 3D’ world, shooting offensive pink robots (big and small) to keep yourself happy (that’s what terminal illness does to you), while making sure you stay healthy as well (hospitals come in handy). The graphics are simplistic, but the fact that Andrew has achieved such a good-looking 3D urban world with GM7 Lite is simply stunning; I like the consistency in visual style, with the HUD matching nicely too. As usual, Andrew has put much effort into the menu, presenting a great preface for the rest of the adventure. The music is admirably appropriate, providing a nice feel to the game and the sound effects are also limited but fine. Overall, it’s another fun arcade shooter from good ol’ Klusky.

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GAME > Bactoriam (Ahmed Hassan)

2009-09-03T02:01:00.001-07:00

In Bactoriam, you play as… well, Bactoriam – ‘king of all bacterias’ (yeah). Bactoriam seems to be enraged that bacteria is considered to be a minimum bare organism. Using the Goo substance surrounding Bactoriam, you must fire bubbles of the matter, killing the viruses (while using up precious Goo), as you bounce helplessly around the arena, hoping to avoid as much harm as possible. There are two game modes (‘Time’ and ‘Score’), where you move onto the next level by reaching the required value relevant to the mode name. The enemy viruses come in a variety of forms, offering a more diverse challenge, as the game gets harder. The graphics are similar to that of Ahmed’s previous game, CrytorYan, only green instead of red. Once again, the colours are well chosen and are nice and consistent. Also, there’s an interesting bubbling effect that crops up throughout; it dramatically improves the visual aspect of Bactoriam. The music is suitable for the genre and the sound effects aren’t too loud, creating a sort of calm air, even if it is a game with explosions. From this game, I think we can conclude that Ahmed Hassan likes chemistry (or just science in general).

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GAME > BOOM (Jan Willem Nijman)

2009-09-03T01:59:00.000-07:00

BOOM is an FPS featuring Jan Willem Nijman’s well-worn style, created for a school project of his (pretty awesome, eh?). There are three ranks of difficulty (each with a funny name) that allow you to explore the two levels at your own pace, changing the effects of a few things. The graphics will be nice to see for fans of the original Game Boy – the creator purposely paid homage to the era and did a pretty great job; for a 3D GameMaker game, the visuals are certainly not bad, providing a seamless adventure with no apparent glitches. The audio is fitting for the style and atmosphere of the shooter, although the bullet firing sound effect was a little dreary. Basically, if you generally like Nijman’s games, you’ll probably enjoy this.

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GAME > Reflexion 2.0 (Juho Pohjonen)

2009-08-27T01:14:00.001-07:00

The sequel to the 2002 original, Reflexion 2.0, is a very challenging puzzler that will probably leave your brain aching. The underlying concept is extremely straightforward – you must flip mirrors so that the endlessly bouncing ball gathers all the blue gems before reaching the finish. But with the brilliant level design, numerous supplementary features and the fact that there are an impressive sixty levels to scratch your head through, the game is harder than it sounds. The graphics are fairly simple, but very well made (you won’t find cheap retro sprites here). I’m not too keen on the white background; it’s a bit plain and boring, although it does reflect the simplicity. The music is quiet, smooth and generally fitting for the whole style of the game – well chosen indeed. The sound effects are also nice and subtle, rounding off a very sweet experience. If you’re looking for something to play for a good while, choose Reflexion 2.0.

DOWNLOAD REFLEXION 2.0

WEBSITE > Time: Game Maker Blog (Connor Ullmann)

2009-08-27T01:12:00.001-07:00

Time: Game Maker Blog covers the GameMaker-related goings on of Connor Ullmann (aka Time). He has and has had many interesting projects which you can follow easily on this blog. The appearance is particularly attractive, with some very nice graphical effects; it’s certainly nice to see a blog with some effort put into the look rather than a plain template with minimal editing. In addition, there’s a nice little feature that lets you see all the online high score tables for his games on the right side of the blog – very handy. Go check it out now.

VISIT TIME: GAME MAKER BLOG

GAME > Scraap (Andrew Brophy)

2009-08-27T01:09:00.000-07:00

Scraap is a generally rough-looking shooter, but that doesn’t harm the fun factor. You face a large array of chaotic enemies, all bent on creating destruction. Simply fire your colourful multihued beam at the torrent of enemies to turn them into, well… scrap. The abstract visuals are well blended to create a haphazard atmosphere, appropriate for the ‘Explosions’ competition it’s been entered in. The high tempo music fits the pace of the game and complements the sound effects that enhance the feel of blasting those adversaries to pieces. Overall, it’s a short but interesting shooter that all action-lovers will enjoy (if it doesn’t lag your computer).

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GAME > Swing 2 (Liam Berry)

2009-08-25T01:26:00.001-07:00

Swing 2 is a remake of Liam’s original Swing game, expanding the idea with much more content; there are five modes each with an online leaderboard. The aim of the game is to destroy the attacking circular enemies by colliding the small circling ball with them, while making sure you avoid losing the three lives you begin with. However, this is an exception in two of the modes, where the rules are slightly altered. The visuals are subtly improved over the original, with more panache and nicer colours. Pretty much all aspects of the graphics have been enhanced in some way. The music is extremely repetitive, but the swift tempo fits the style and speed. Overall, Swing 2 has much more replayability than the original and it’s clear more effort has been put into the development side.

DOWNLOAD SWING 2

GAME > Godhood (Lord Raijin)

2009-08-25T01:24:00.001-07:00

Godhood isn’t an entirely normal game, nor is it very lengthy. The objective is to ‘identify yourself with habits of average villagers of your realm on your quest to become next god’, and you’d do well to fulfil this without using the handy dandy walkthrough. A lot of the solutions feel quite random and unobvious and that’s basically what makes it so damn confusingly hard. The pixelized graphics are quite pretty and consistent, giving the experience a fresh feel – perfect for what it is. The music is atmospheric and fits the aim of the game very well, although the sound effects get quite repetitive; a little variation would have been nice in that department. Overall, though, a short but certainly unique game.

DOWNLOAD GODHOOD

GAME > Tower of Heaven (Askiisoft)

2009-08-25T01:22:00.001-07:00

Tower of Heaven is a fairly short (although it took two years to create) puzzle platformer where you must complete each level in a certain time limit to successfully scale the tower. After the introduction, the game bases itself upon laws that are gradually introduced by God, as you progress through each stage. This concept makes each level increasingly tricky and also gives the opportunity for good design. After you complete the game the first time, you can go back through it in the ‘Speed Run’ mode, where you are timed for the whole adventure. The developers of Tower of Heaven is even holding a promotional Speed Run contest where you can win some cool stuff. As for the looks, Tower of Heaven bears a well presented 3-colour pixelized style, with some nice effects that give great polish. This style matches very well with the audio, which is also nice and old-school (very Game Boy-esque). Overall, a well refined and fun platformer.

DOWNLOAD TOWER OF HEAVEN

GAME > PyRO (Zack Banack)

2009-08-17T01:19:00.001-07:00

PyRO instantly reminded me of a previously reviewed game, For Now. And it’s easy to see why. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting platformer with a nice gimmick - interactively rotating visuals. You supposedly play as a child who ‘fears the flame’; you can make your own mind up whether a small yellow cube adequately represents a child. Over the thirty levels, there are a number of new puzzling features introduced to increase PyRO’s challenge and variety, as well as a level editor for more extensibility. Although I do have a problem with the slow player movement; it makes every move feel very heavy and laborious. The visuals look quite smooth and the rotating cubes aren’t too extreme. PyRO features a soothing and atmospheric background tune which fits nicely with the leisurely movement and the game’s eccentricity. By the way, the platformer was made for Game Jolt’s Axiom contest and surely must stand a decent chance.

DOWNLOAD PYRO

WEBSITE > Vitarsi Vex D (Vishnu Aravind)

2009-08-17T01:17:00.000-07:00

Vitarsi Vex D is the latest version of Vishnu’s easy-to-use GameMaker online highscores service. This is a very impressive update, with data encryption, scores shown within games and no freezing being only a few of the new features. All you need to do is create an account, set up some stuff, use the well explained example to integrate the scores, and there you go! In addition, the website is laid out cleanly and navigating is effortless – this just makes the process even simpler than it already is. Adding online features to your games gives them much more depth and replayability, so I’d certainly advise you to take a good look at Vex D.

VISIT VITARSI VEX D

GAME > Sound Shower (EasyBeak)

2009-08-14T02:23:00.001-07:00

Sound Shower employs a very straightforward concept, but the variety and nice-looking visuals make this game fun to play. As the music notes fall from the top of the screen in tune with the background song, you must make the faceless character stand on a button to destroy the correspondingly coloured plummeting notes. There are four modes of increasing difficulty, each with their own song, although generally, the game is fairly easy. The graphics are nice to look at and are polished well. Some nice effects are included and the whole game just seems to flow very well. The music is nice to listen to and the nature of it allows for some varied note patterns. This is a small game that’s well rounded in every aspect.

DOWNLOAD SOUND SHOWER

WEBSITE > zachTaylor (Zach Taylor)

2009-08-14T02:21:00.001-07:00

Zach Taylor’s website is another interesting one from a promising game developer. The predominant feature is the fact that the whole site has no images at all - there’s a picture, except it’s constructed with ASCII – a bit gimmicky, but pretty nifty if you ask me. The site’s colour theme is a bit iffy and many probably won’t like it much. There’s a bit of content to read as well as Zach’s Twitter feed and his blog. All three of his games are also available to download. Heck, just go and check it out right now.

VISIT ZACHTAYLOR

WEBSITE > NALGames (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-08-12T01:59:00.001-07:00

The latest update of NALGames is somewhat radical. As you’ll probably first notice, the look of the site is interesting to say the least; I’m not sure whether I like it or not, but I do know it conveys a very bold manner and I akin to that. The site boasts more than a few pages of interesting content (I found the ‘About’ section particularly fascinating), all organised in a structured fashion and easily accessible through the comprehensible navigation bar. With all of Andrew’s top quality games there to download, it should keep you busy for a while, especially if you’re new to this great developer. The newest version of the website also includes a blog which so far has been very frequently updated, mainly with posts regarding his new game in progress. On the whole, this site is very interesting to both look at and read, especially if you’re a fan of McCluskey and his work.

VISIT NALGAMES

GAME > ScattleWare (David Scatliffe)

2009-08-12T01:58:00.001-07:00

ScattleWare is a game quite clearly inspired by WarioWare; simply, it features several very quick minigames that are controlled by either the mouse or keyboard. The fast-paced style makes for a fittingly overdramatic and challenging experience and quick thinking is an absolute must here. ScattleWare is visually represented very nicely, with an attractive cartoon style complementing the funny slapdash approach. Strangely, there’s no background music (which would arguably be appropriate for this style of game). There are a few cheesy sound effects and an amusing portion of music from Michael Jackson, however. Overall, if the game had a few more minigames it’d definitely be worth a good play.

DOWNLOAD SCATTLEWARE

GAME > Miniblip (Andrew Brophy)

2009-08-10T01:15:00.001-07:00

Miniblip is an extremely small game, created in only two hours. But what’s there is fun. You control a simple ship and basically just shoot the skulls that come from the top of the screen. Strategy is added with the possibility of building up huge multipliers to gain massive scores which greatly enhances the depth of the shooter. The graphics are aptly minimalistic, but a nice touch allows you to change the main colour to any you wish. There’s also a cool blurry effect which crops up throughout, adding more interest to the visual side. The retro-ish background music is nice to listen to and the sound effects are fitting. Overall, while it may not exactly be revolutionary, it’s a cool little shooter.

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GAME > Mr. Jones’ Dream (David Sulon)

2009-08-10T01:12:00.001-07:00

Mr. Jones’ Dream is an exploration platformer that focuses on a businessman who’s just been laid off. The game follows the vivid dream of Mr. Jones when he goes home and falls asleep. Taken as a whole, it’s a pretty unsystematic platformer, with an array of challenges at hand; quite a fitting scene for a dream. The pixelized graphics are nothing particularly special, but they are well pulled off and the visual consistency is nice. Also, the simplicity reflects the dreamy environment. The range of background music, although fundamentally basic, fits the atmosphere nicely and it’s great to see that the developer actually made them himself. Incidentally, the game has been entered into TIGSource’s Adult/Educational competition.

DOWNLOAD MR. JONES’ DREAM

GAME > Trinity 1.2 Full Version (black ice00100)

2009-07-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Trinity is a commercial puzzle game by “black ice00100” in which you play through a variety of challenging levels requiring you to click on blocks and switch their colors until at least 80% of the generated pattern is one color. The block you click on does not change color, but the blocks around it do. To make things even harder they change in sequence. A blue block will change to red, and a red block will change to green. Confusing? You’ll pick it up.

Trinity sells for just 98 cents (USD) at the time I write this article, via secure online purchase with BMT Micro. If you don’t have any electronic money you can try the demo but it has limited features. I snapped up a copy myself for only $1.56 (NZD) which generously includes free updates. I received Trinity in an email only minutes after purchase and downloaded the 47 megabyte game. A bit excessive, huh? Turns out its due to a massive sound file included with the game. Trinity is just 12 megabytes on its own.
After purchasing I discovered that my key was getting rejected by the registration system. You’ll be pleased to know the issue has been reported and a new update has fixed the problem.

After getting through a couple of splash screens you are greeted with a nice menu full of lots of options. You can set the difficulty level (I seriously recommend easy for any newbies) and you can tweak a few settings. There is also a small tutorial explaining the basics of the game and a very simple level editor allowing you to construct your own challenges.
You’ll notice that parts of the GUI are blurred which can become a little uncomfortable, and popup messages are transparent. The game also has a flashlight that follows the cursor so parts of the screen will be shaded until you hover over them. These three factors combine confuse me, and I am not sure if it hurts or promotes gameplay. Its one of those things that you either love or you hate.

When you finally decide to play a level you’ll be thrown in to a dark, luminous, mysterious layout which is complimented by both bright and dark graphics and a funky background. You’ll be overwhelmed by explosion sounds and emitters ranging from sparks to ellipsoids, followed by the default rain effect that changes colors corresponding the what blocks are currently dominating the generated pattern. It truly is a beautiful display.

You are given just 60 seconds on easy mode to complete the puzzle. I believe it's only 40 seconds on medium mode. As for hard mode, I don’t even want to know.
There is a counter to the left of the screen that shows you what your time limit is and how much time has gone by so far. There is also a clock at the bottom right of the screen. I guess it comes handy when you want to keep track of time rather than suddenly realizing you have been playing for hours.
Once you complete the level the counter stops and the colored blocks that dominate 80% or more of the pattern spark and explode. When you are ready you can proceed to the next level. If you fail you can retry that level, but it regenerates a block sequence so you won’t be able to have another go at that particular pattern. There are indeed levels, but the shape and form of the puzzle variates all the time unless you load a pre-made map.

As far as bugs go I noticed that sometimes when returning to easy mode, the save file will not load correctly. At times I have had an easy mode level and the level editor overlap at the same time. On one occasion I also had the load screen hang over the game until I exited to the main menu, blurring all features of the game. The only fix to this appears to be deleting your save files and starting from scratch. I find that if I use the menu button rather than pressing escape this doesn’t occur as often, if not at all.

To conclude, Trinity is a beautiful and addictive puzzle game that sells at a price anyone can afford. There are a few features that might not appeal to everyone and the odd bug can twist things up a bit, but if you can appreciate the engaging levels then it truly won’t matter. Again, the demo is available to anybody with an internet connection and 12 megabytes spare.
For what it's worth I rate this game an 8.5/10.

DOWNLOAD TRINITY

GAME > For Now (Josh Sullivan)

2009-07-23T02:02:00.001-07:00

For Now looks very similar to an unreleased game by Jonaton Söderström, but just because it’s so comparable, it shouldn’t be looked down upon. After all, it does have some unique features in addition. Anyway, For Now is a psychedelic platformer with disorientating effects that make what would be a boring game without the eccentricity, an interesting game. In each level, you collect all the red pyramids by jumping around with a multicoloured ball – it’s a simple objective, but it doesn’t need to be anything more, since the effects provide the challenge. The visuals are clearly the main focus, with abstract 3D platforms present in magnitude; each level has a slightly different style to keep things new – you never really know what to expect in the next stage, apart from more weird and wonderful visuals. The background music creates a fitting ambience for this strange platformer. No sound effects seem to be at hand, but they’re not really needed.

DOWNLOAD FOR NOW

GAME > Super Slime Soccer (Jenner Mollerhoj)

2009-07-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

Super Slime Soccer has been steadily developing for a long time and it’s great to see the completed product is finally here. Basically, the game is a glorified double of the popular classic Soccer Slime flash game, with a hefty diversity of playable characters added to the equation. Each one has a different special ability which can be used tactically to gain an advantage (first to three goals wins the match, by default). There are a number of modes, including ‘Quick Match’, ‘2-Player Friendly’, ‘Championship’ and more. By winning these, you can purchase more slimes at the SHOP, significantly adding to the replayability and motivation you will have to continue playing the game. Super Slime Soccer bears some very polished graphics; after being in progress for so long, we’ve seen them gradually improve and this is undoubtedly the result of the huge work put in. All the visuals are clean and I’m especially fond of the assortment of environments that the matches can be played in (eleven in total). The overall consistency in the appearance is flawless and it’s blatant that Jenner has put much care and thought into this aspect of the game. The music is also well done and, although quite overused, the sound effects are appropriate and somewhat informative. Finally, I should mention that the creator has also released a stunning website for SSS, which includes a forum for discussion.

DOWNLOAD SUPER SLIME SOCCER

INTERVIEW > Alexis Andújar González

2009-07-22T02:03:00.000-07:00

Alexis is a well-known user of GameMaker, having created several good games, most notably, The Power. He has his own site to showcase his creations, of which most are programmed with the Drag and Drop facility in GameMaker. Alexis was also very recently invited to join The Poppenkast.

Please introduce yourself.
I am Alexis Andújar González (AKA Alexitrón). I’m 28, married and live in Puerto Rico. I develop freeware video games as a hobby in my spare time.

When did you start to get interested in game development, especially with GameMaker?
I started to get an interest in game making as soon as I started to play them in my Atari 2600 when I was a kid. Then came the NES and I was hooked forever. When I wasn’t playing games I was thinking about them or talking about them. I drew video games on my school notebooks during class, little doodles engaged in all sorts of video game activities, an absolute addict. Then some day in late 2005 or early 2006 I started to Google for game making tools and came across Game Maker. It promised me that I would be able to make games without code and so I felt in love with it. I started and dropped GM a couple of times until I finally got the hang of it and haven’t let it go until today.

Being a working man, do you agree that GM is a brilliant tool for people with lack of time but high aspirations?
Absolutely, GM always does half or more of the work for you. If you want to get into game making and only have a little spare time per day, GM is the thing for you.

Do you think you’ll be using GameMaker for a long time? Will you ever consider trying out a different program?
I will continue to use GM for as long as it allows me to do what I want in it. But I am always open to try new things; I have made some research about other tools and have tried some like Construct. I still don’t find any that offer the versatility and ease of use of GM.

What would you say is the prime source of inspiration for your games?
It has to be the NES. I was still playing my NES when most of my friends already had Super NES and Genesis systems. There was something about the simple looks and mechanics of the NES games that I just loved. Games back then were, well, just games, and that was fine with me. I try to emulate this in my creations, but I am not restricted by it and am not afraid of experimentation either.

When releasing games, you tend to make the source file public. Why?
I started to do this some time after I released The Power. I do it because I want my games to go as far as they can, to reach as many people as possible. Maybe someone didn’t like my game much, but was left wondering how I made this or that; maybe the source will make that someone take an interest in my work, even if that someone didn’t like the game much. Also, a lot of people go “Hey, this deserves a sequel” or “Add this feature”. I am not a big fan of making sequels and even though I do it if I have to, I really don’t like to go back to my old games once I think of them as done. By making the source open, I hope to satisfy this particular crowd that couldn’t have enough of the game. Also, I like it when I see other GM users make their own stuff out of mine. Jet Pod, for example, has over ten player-made versions that I know of. I feel like I made the next Breakout and everyone is making clones of it… OK, maybe not exactly to that extent, but you get the point.

Do you think more indie game developers should do this?
Everyone should do with their work as they please. And if they don’t make their source material open, there are always decompilers… hehehe.

Most of your creations have a visually retro style. Is this done purposely?
Yes, I can’t get enough retro. I want to get better at pixel art or at least make a style of my own and get away with it. Like always, I am not limited to this graphic style; I have tried flashier anti-aliased stuff, 3D modelling with Blender, and even clay. I love playing with clay and hope to do a game with clay graphics in the future.

Which of your games do you think you’re most well-known for?
The Power. It’s been everywhere, even in DVDs that come with magazines. It got a 15th place in best platformers of 2008 on IndieGames.com. It has been featured on many sites and most of the time, when people talk about my other games they go like “this game made by Alexitrón, creator of The Power”. It has been Let’s Played twice and even has a wiki entry.

What aspect of it do you think attracted players?
I believe the biggest attraction of The Power is the graphics; people were quick to praise them and to compare them to games of old and even a movie, Tron. But beyond the looks, a lot of people also appreciated the simplicity of the game; there is nothing fancy or absolutely original to be found there, a lot of it is very Metroid-like, but many people loved how simple the game was and how much it reminded them of the games they used to play. The C64 was mentioned a lot, I didn’t get to play that so I guess I missed some good times. So, I believe that with The Power I got the simplicity and playability combo to work along with some attractive looks and that is what made it good for the players.

Could you give us a short overview of your latest game, Alexitrón’s Journey to Learn GML?
Alexitrón’s Journey to Learn GML is more than a game, it’s a learning experience turned into a game. In the game, you play the role of ME, developer Alexitrón, and you are tasked with helping me get rid of the Drag and Drop icons used to facilitate game making for people that can’t code and finally make the transition to Game Maker Language, which further extends the possibilities of GM. It’s a very simple game with minimal looks and mechanics, but it has been well received by the communities.

Did you receive coding help with this game, since it’s your first using GML?
No doubt. I wouldn’t have done it without the help of the guys at Game Jolt. They not only convinced me to make the transition to GML, but helped me all the way through the creation of this game. Thank you guys!

Why has it taken you so long to move away from using the Drag and Drop icons in GameMaker?
I hate code. It’s so technical and complicated. Up until now, I’ve been able to do what I want with GM with just Drag and Drop, so in my head there was really no need to learn GML. But now I want to deliver better games faster and efficiently and that can’t happen with D&D. I have to start every single project from scratch, even if they have similar mechanics to my other games; editing a D&D-only game can be so painful that it’s better to just do it all over again. With GML, it’s just a matter of copy & paste and whatever adjustments you want.

Have comments regarding the game been positive?
So far all the feedback has been good. The major complaint that I get is that it’s too short or that it doesn’t have music. But this is a small experiment, so that is fine.

Can we expect any more games from you soon?
I am on a learning process now. I hate learning because it’s tied to reading and I hate reading, so I’m going to be working on small games/experiments as I learn new things. That way the process should be less hateful. I have an idea for a small puzzle game now, maybe it will happen, maybe not.

Thanks for taking part. Is there anything you’d like to add?
I want to thank all the communities and all the people who kindly support me and my work. I hope to keep on delivering games that you all enjoy to play. Also, thank you for this great opportunity.

VISIT ALEXIS’ WEBSITE

GAME > Fly in My Hat (Black Parchment)

2009-07-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

Fly in My Hat is a psychedelic scrolling arcade game where you have to guide the character through a testing chamber of fuzzy walls. The slippery controls and far from normal visuals make this a hard game, even in ‘Easy’ mode. As you move from checkpoint to checkpoint, fighting the annoying pull of gravity, things get rapidly more difficult. Visually, it’s very abstract, with a blurred trail of the player and a lively screen being a couple of many mad graphical aspects. All this makes it harder to play, but more exciting too. The music goes well with the general style and graphics – yes it’s pretty crazy. There are no sound effects, but they’d probably interrupt the jerky music. If you like playing games produced by The Poppenkast, you’ll most likely enjoy the challenge.

DOWNLOAD FLY IN MY HAT

GAME > Bullrider (G.I.L.)

2009-07-22T01:13:00.000-07:00

Bullrider is a small arcade game made for the Poppenkast Western competition. It’s very simple to pick up and play, with a linear objective. You must stop the bandits running off with the cattle by stomping on them and the game ends when all of the livestock have been taken out of the red circle. The graphics are nothing special, but they’re good enough not to displease. A nice effect was the leaving of a dirty trail after the bull and the bandits. Bullrider features a basic background tune which fits fairly well, but that’s about it in regards to audio. So, an extremely simple game, but you should get some entertainment out of it.

DOWNLOAD BULLRIDER

GAME > CrytorYan (Ahmed Hassan)

2009-07-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

CrytorYan is an insanely difficult arena shooter based around the story of Dr Zack. The game arena plays the part as the container for the material he has discovered – CrytorYan. The gameplay follows a set of initially indigestible rules concerning the two atoms in the material – ‘Bluy’ and ‘Whity’ (yes, they’re very creatively named). The fundamental aim is to control and fire germs from the ‘Whity’ atoms at the ‘Bluy’ atoms, while avoiding actually making contact with the ‘Bluy’ atoms, racking up points. The graphics are very red and pixelized – this style is held consistently and, although very simple, the colours work together nicely to give a tidy display. A cool effect that mixes up the visuals a bit is the beating vibration of the screen. This compliments the background music to build up a rhythmic environment that lets the game flow impressively.

DOWNLOAD CRYTORYAN

GAME > Silly Anthony, Don’t Run Away While I’m Filming! (Ryan Langewisch)

2009-07-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

Created to celebrate the first anniversary of the hit indie games weekly video show, ByteJacker, SADRAWIF is a fun platformer in which the show’s cameraman (Jon) chases Anthony when he decides to run away for reasons we’re not aware of. Controlling Jon, you must run over rooftops while trying to keep Anthony in the camera shot – failing to do so results in ‘Game Over’. Various harmful objects must also be avoided, ranging from drink cans to bubble gum; this can become very tough and timing jumps becomes a core skill needed to progress well. There is also a wide range of characters from indie games dotted throughout that can be collected, adding to replayability. The graphics are very refined; especially considering SADRAWIF was made in only two days. The overall visual style is very consistent and there’s enough variety to keep you interested. For music, the game includes a remix of the familiar ByteJacker show introduction, expertly created by Ryan’s brother. The track really adds to the authenticity. Any ByteJacker fan must play this!

DOWNLOAD SADRAWIF

GAME > Lighthouse (Orbic Entertainment)

2009-07-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

Lighthouse puts you in control of a lighthouse. That makes sense, right? Okay, so the basic objective is to guide lost ships on their way to safety by shining light on them, while destroying anything unwanted that gets in the way, may it be water mines or pirates. This is done by focusing the light, essentially frying the enemies. After a while you’ll stack up a multitude of points, especially if you concentrate on achieving high combo scores. A small limit on the amount of ships that can be crashed before the game is over keeps the tension high in this fiddly arcade experience, but also makes it a tad too demanding too soon. Lighthouse is visually very pleasing, with well picked colours and consistent graphics in-game. The only graphical setback is an exception to the visual uniformity – the menu doesn’t match at all and is pretty unappealing to say the least. Unfortunately, no audio accompanies this game; I believe sound would improve the game vastly, especially in creating a fitting hostile atmosphere. But if you don’t mind silence, this game is worth a play.

DOWNLOAD LIGHTHOUSE

GAME > Alexitrón’s Journey to Learn GML (Alexis Andújar Gonzalez)

2009-07-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

Alexitrón’s Journey to Learn GML is a comical platformer comprising of twenty increasingly difficult levels. The game is based upon the creator’s transition from the use of Drag and Drop to GML in GameMaker. The player must destroy all of the Drag and Drop icons in each level, simply by jumping on them – oh, how refreshing it is. The icons come in a variety of forms to keep the game varied and a combination of them together can prove tricky to overcome. The graphics are very simple, reinforcing the somewhat plain style of the GameMaker GUI. A nice effect appears when the protagonist jumps on an enemy, but that’s about as distinctive as the visuals become. There’s no background music, but the fitting retro sound effects more than make up for this. Overall, it’s a great game to pass a little time with. I hope Alexis can continue to make brilliant games, now in GML.

DOWNLOAD ALEXITRÓN’S JOURNEY TO LEARN GML

GAME > Innoquous 3 (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-07-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

Innoquous 3 is yet another sequel from Andrew McCluskey. This tricky platformer adds countless features to what used to be a simple game, making this by far the most comprehensive and impressive of the series. Using the arrow keys, the player negotiates cleverly designed levels (in colour for the first time in the Innoquous series), with the main gimmick being the smooth gravity switching. Boasting thirty levels and a number of different modes, there is a lot to do to attain 100% completion. And this is all made even better when you consider the ability to upload your stats to the Innoquous 3 website, allowing you to compare scores with other Innoquous-lovers across the globe. Heck, there are even ten trophies to amass. Graphically, the game is very streamlined but colours add to what used to be a pretty desolate-looking platformer. Something which attracted me was the well thought-out menu; it’s not often you see a good menu in GM games. Personally, I thought the music was a little off the gameplay tempo and, although the hordes of sound effects were nice to hear, some of them clashed pretty distinctly. However, these are minute negatives of a very very good piece of excellence.

DOWNLOAD INNOQUOUS 3

GAME > The Titanic Tower of Tremendous Tricks (Rob Obox)

2009-07-14T01:54:00.000-07:00

The Titanic Tower of Tremendous Tricks puts the player at the foot of a gigantic tower (created by Mr Manko) which houses fifty levels that must be negotiated for the protagonist to reach his teleported girlfriend. The puzzler is a grid-based top-down game that has you pushing blocks, flicking switches and doing an assortment of other things that you’d expect to see in a puzzler of this kind. In terms of difficulty, this is one tricky game and some real brain-scratching will be needed to finish it. The appearance is very smooth and the shiny graphics are nice to look at – the quality of the intro caught my attention. Subtle glowing effects and small details really add to the final look, although the lack of a walking animation for the player was unfortunately noticeable. Audio-wise, it sounds very atmospheric and the mysterious tune helps the ambience tremendously.

DOWNLOAD THE TITANIC TOWER OF TREMENDOUS TRICKS

GAME > Madness Endam (Gideon Simons)

2009-07-14T01:48:00.000-07:00

Madness Endam is a short arena based shoot-‘em-up with a lot of flair. Using just the mouse, you help a skull-like being destroy 100 creatures that appear to be running riot inside his frail brain. These drones come in varying forms and things get progressively harder as more and more of them are destroyed. It’s a very basic formula, but it works well and the game is a lot of fun to play, even though it’s arguably a little short-lived. Yet it has to be said that the graphics make this game. The flickering effects, font and colour scheme work well together, creating a fantastic visual atmosphere that will keep you allured. Moreover, the music by Cube-C is pretty groovy and reflects the game very well. All round, it’s a great little shooter that’ll keep you occupied for a small chunk of time.

DOWNLOAD MADNESS ENDAM

GAME > Follow Your Heart (Kolj)

2009-07-09T01:25:00.000-07:00

Follow Your Heart is a simple platformer, where you can only walk left and right and climb ladders. Yes, no jumping, but this permits some smart level design. The objective is clear-cut; reach the pink heart in each level to make a door appear, then go through it. Alas, it isn’t actually too difficult to beat the game, nevertheless I imagine the saying ‘short but sweet’ is applicable here. Graphically, the game is basic, but in a good way. The consistent pixel style is very well executed, adding to the pleasure you will find while playing. The retro background tune is very repetitive, but this rather reflects how games used to sound. There are also a few cheesy sound effects that feel somehow necessary.

DOWNLOAD FOLLOW YOUR HEART

GAME > Neutrality (fred_zhu)

2009-07-08T01:47:00.000-07:00

Although the relatively large file size may scare a few away, they’d be making the wrong decision, for Neutrality is definitely a game that deserves a play through. The puzzler is based around quite an interesting concept – to collide all negative and positive particles in each of the thirty levels, to achieve, well… neutrality. You control a negative particle, using the mouse and must manipulate the particles in order to accomplish the goal of the game. Several fresh mechanisms are gradually introduced throughout, offering clever new challenges that should keep you entertained for long enough. The visuals, although fairly simple, are admirably done and remain consistent right through, even if the presentation is a little lacking and uninspired at times. Neutrality also comes with a range of atmospheric tunes that perfectly match the game’s general tempo and feel.

DOWNLOAD NEUTRALITY

GAME > The Great Double Dog Unicycle Dare (Ryan Langewisch)

2009-07-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

TGDDUD is hard. Wheely hard. So hard, I only just managed to proceed over the first gap (I’m terrible, I know). Anyway, it’s a platformer where you are dared to ride a wobbly unicycle that is unbelievingly hard to manage – if you play anything like me, you’ll be smashing your keyboard plentifully. Other than that, it’s a pretty basic platformer with the normal challenges you’d expect. The graphics have a very definitive red style and when they’re all put together, they work. It pretty much proves that minimalistic work on the visual side can still make a game look good. As with pretty much every game by Ryan Langewisch I remember playing, TGDDUD comes with a very retro background tune. And, as usual, it fits perfectly. If you complete this, you really should give yourself a pat on the back.

DOWNLOAD TGDDUD

GAME > Inturbonauter (Ryan Langewisch)

2009-07-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

Inturbonauter is another GM bullet-hell shoot-‘em-up, but this one comes with some pretty nifty effects. You venture through 30 fairly short levels of increasing difficulty (a fun ‘Random Mode’ is also included), where you must fire continuously at the boss positioned in the centre of the battlefield, until you’re greeted with the message ‘WIN!’ (or ‘FAIL!’). Facing masses of spiralling bullets in varying formations makes this no easy game, but good hand-eye co-ordination will go a long way. An interesting feature pulls your bullets to the centre of the arena (towards the foe); I’ve never seen this before, so it’s a pretty cool idea. The visuals are… pretty mad, it has to be said; ever-changing highly contrasting colours and flickering effects really add to the experience, increasing the excitement factor. Upbeat music is also incorporated, giving the shooter a suitable atmosphere that makes you want to just keep on playing.

DOWNLOAD INTURBONAUTER

GAME > Love Machine: Pod of Dreams (Andrew Brophy)

2009-07-04T02:34:00.000-07:00

Love Machine: Pod of Dreams is a short shooter with simple gameplay. The aim is to use the straightforwardly manoeuvrable pod to soar around and shoot an array of looming enemies with the ship’s beam. That’s really all there is to it. Graphically, the game is sound, with interesting gunfire effects and consistent visuals elsewhere. A cool little feature allows you to invert the colour of the screen, creating more interesting artwork. It all feels nice and retrofied, which the fitting audio underpins. All in all, this is a pleasant shooter that’ll keep you busy for a few minutes.

DOWNLOAD LOVE MACHINE: POD OF DREAMS

GAME > Infidels (Andrew McCluskey)

2009-07-04T02:30:00.000-07:00

Infidels puts the player in the year 2071, where a religion based on ginger hair colour exists. It happens to be your job to electrocute the anti-ginger infidels. Holding the mouse, you fire charge-limited waves of electricity towards the oncoming enemies, watching them suffer endlessly, while accumulating points that can be submitted to the high score leaderboard. The game is very tough in the sense that you’re continually darting around the 3D playing field to avoid your health reaching zero. Although monotony has been combated with the flourishes of new enemies and a selection of power-ups, it still arguably becomes a little monotonous with such a one-dimensional method of attack. The graphical style is typical of Andrew McCluskey, with vibrant visuals concealing his limited graphical abilities. As for the music, it’s very upbeat and fits with the general pace of the game. Perhaps it’s a little high in pitch for some peoples’ tastes, though. Incidentally, the game was made for the Game Jolt ‘Shocking’ competition and came in a warranted second place.

DOWNLOAD INFIDELS

INTERVIEW > Banov

2009-07-02T01:26:00.001-07:00

Banov has become an increasingly popular GM user in recent times. Releases including Assassin Blue and his newest, Crazy Over Goo, have thrust him into the indie spotlight, showing that simply making good games can get you deservedly noticed. He has an arrogantly named blog which is updated fairly regularly and can prove interesting to read. We jumped at the chance of talking to this brilliant game developer.

Please tell us about yourself.
I'm Banov, I'm an awesome indie game developer, totally handsome, and covers up deep-seated self esteem issues with false arrogance.

How did you start out with GameMaker?
I'd been making board games as a kid, and my interest in game making lead to some experimentation with computer game making tools--particularly BYOND--before I stumbled onto Game Maker. My first project(s) were going to be games related to the story-driven webcomic I was drawing at the time, but eventually I abandoned my comicking entirely for game making.

Where did your inspiration for Crazy Over Goo come from?
After I made Assassin Blue, an action platformer, I kind of wanted to try a new genre... but I still had a lot of ideas for a platformer, so I decided to make Crazy Over Goo as a little mini-project. At the time when I started out I was very much into Mega Man 9 and World of Goo, and I think some of that love came through as I was making Crazy Over Goo (particularly from the latter).

Why did you change the name of the game for the final release?
It was originally called Yellow Goo Love, but I hadn't actually spent much time thinking of the name and it wasn't very catchy. I went around looking for ideas as I was finishing the game, and I thought "Crazy Over Goo" was a much more clever title-- it was fun, a little zany, and had a subtle love pun ("Crazy Over You") that fit the game a bit better. I didn't think anyone would notice, honestly.

Did you create all aspects of the game by yourself, or did you receive some help?
The music was all provided by Prophecy, who usually does the music for my games. A friend named Brod provided a basic engine for the level editor as I had no idea where to start, but by the time I got it working right I'd rewritten a decent amount of his code. And another friend named Scattle contributed the swanky little blue pattern you see on floors and ceilings, though I didn't actually ask him for it… :P

Throughout the game there are frequent introductions to new gimmicky features to keep it fresh. Do you agree this is part of what makes it fun and challenging to play?
The original concept for the game was to include as many gimmicks as possible and cram them into small, bite-sized levels--essentially to make a game on ADD. I just wanted to see how many gimmicks I could come up with for one game. The final product was less extreme perhaps than I'd originally set out for, but I do think that the constant random additions are core to what defines this game and makes it fun.

Were you content with how the final game turned out? And for what reason did you include a level editor?
I'm practically a perfectionist, so I didn't release the game until I was totally satisfied with it. The level editor was kind of a snap decision... I found that because of the game's wide variety of interactive items as well as simple mechanics, the levels were a BLAST to design and when my friend Brod mentioned a level editor he was working on I decided it would be a great addition to the game, and hopefully increase its shelf life past the 50 levels I pumped out.

What do you think of the feedback you’ve received regarding COG?
It's all been great, honestly better than I expected. Not that I had zero confidence in it, but I knew from the start it wasn't going to be compared favorably to my other games because of its relative simplicity and lack of storyline. I was pretty shocked when it appeared on IndieGames and was put into the GMC Cage Matches within a couple days of completion...

Would you ever consider creating a sequel?
No. As with all my other games, I'm tired of Crazy Over Goo and I want to work on new things. If I still wanted to make the same game, I would just have kept on adding onto the original.

Are you happy with the popularity you and your games have recently gained? And do you feel it’s deserved?
I think it's great. As with any other artist/creator/whatever you want to call it, I love to have my work seen by lots of people and to get feedback on it. Whether it's deserved might be a different story, as I know I'm just one of many many talented game makers, and all the publicity has not been good for my oversized ego. It's a double-edged sword.

Tell us about your next WIP project, Dubloon – it seems rather interesting.
Oh, wow, I could talk forever about this one. Dubloon is a point-and-click pirate RPG adventure, and is going to be mind-blowingly awesome. I love pirates and the pirate mythology, but I feel they're underrepresented in video games (especially compared to those douchebag ninjas) so I felt that at some point in my career I'd have to make a pirate video game... and I wanted a game that emphasized the things that made piracy great (teamwork, adventure, exploration).

The game is unique because although a lot of the mechanics are very standard roleplaying game mechanics, I enhanced it with a totally mouse-controlled interface that avoids menus for simple drag-and-drop action to use items, equip weapons, configure movesets, buy and sell goods, battle enemies, etc. It also makes use of a drag-and-drop system that lets you place special items directly onto the screen--like bombs--to solve puzzles and uncover secrets. And of course I've got an exciting storyline to glue the game together. I've been making fast progress with it; I put out an engine demo a week after I started it and I'm not too far from another release featuring cutscenes and levels and such.

How do you see yourself in the future, as regards to game development?
I'm getting my hands on a shiny new MacBook soon and I'm going to start learning and developing for the iPhone, and possibly start earning some cash. I've also got plans to study my interests in college and find an actual career in game design. It's all very exciting!

Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you. Would you like to add any closing words?
I'm sorry for talking about Dubloon so much! I always end up saying a lot when I start to talk about it...

No problem at all, Banov.

VISIT BANOV’S BLOG

EXTENSION > Platform Basic Library (Andy Hamm)

2009-06-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Platform Basic is an old library package released back in 2004 by Andy Hamm originally designed for Game Maker 5 & 6 users. The library aids in creation of platform games. It includes 18 drag-and-drop actions and a customizable game engine, topped off with some very sharp glossy blue icons.

Unlike many platform libraries I have tried Platform Basic just works. There is no fuss, no confusion, and your games always feel professional. Implementing the library into your game is extremely easy and only takes a few D&D actions before things are running. And don't be fooled by the release date! This library is very stable compared to some of the platform game packages I have tampered with from more recent dates.

Platform Basic has three different versions still available for download officially supporting versions 5 and 6 of Game Maker, however version 2.0 of Platform Basic works fine with Game Maker 7. The download also comes with a help file and example.

CHECK OUT PLATFORM BASIC

GAME > Physbox Evolution (Tom Blackwell)

2009-06-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Physbox is a sandbox game created by Tom Blackwell that gives you construction tools along with basic props and shapes. The aim of the game is simple - there isn’t one. Physbox is a creative free will game in which you can build anything you want. It could be a car, a plane, a house, or a city. It's all about imagination.

Recently Physbox has been updated to version 0.7 of it's recoded “evolution” releases (so technically it's version 3.0). This new release primarily adds a new trail tool, a fort fight DM map, and the ability to skin all the GUI graphics.

Physbox boasts a rich modification system allowing users to effortlessly create content for the game. Creating props and tools is no more difficult then writing a few lines in GM. And with the new ability to switch window themes its now possible to customize just about every aspect of the game to your tastes and preferences.

Physbox is based upon GMPhysics 4, the latest stable release of one of the most well known physics systems for Game Maker - and the creator certainly hasn’t skipped on getting every possible feature implemented.

The game is currently lacking online capability but Tom (aka cooldudetb) is already preparing to add multiplayer functions to not so distant releases, as you will notice when you play the game. Physbox already has a forum with supporters so when online functionality is implemented, servers should pop up right away!

In the end Physbox has charm, lots of features, and leaves you addicted and hungry for more. If you are a fan of the simulation genre, Physbox won’t disappoint.

DOWNLOAD PHYSBOX EVOLUTION 0.7

GAME > Crazy Over Goo (Banov)

2009-06-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

Crazy Over Goo is somewhat of a departure from Banov’s previous works. In fact, it’s a complete subversion of what we’ve come to expect. Compared to the sweeping epic that was Assassin Blue, Crazy Over Goo is almost a polar opposite. Far more humble in its ambitions, this does not preclude Crazy Over Goo from being a very enjoyable game.
The basic premise of Crazy Over Goo is to propel your goo ball around the stage to get to the goal. A veritable hoard of obstacle mechanics stand in your way, from spikes to sticky walls, with a new impediment being introduced every few levels. In this way gameplay is very simplistic and easy to learn. The mouse controls the angle and strength of the goo’s bounce… and that’s pretty much it. The simplistic nature of the gameplay is both the games greatest strength and greatest weakness; the game is immediately accessible but its depth is questionable. Hence, the new obstructions are required in order to keep the player interested, and thankfully they become available at perfectly timed intervals. To list all of the challenges the player will face here would damage the appeal of the game, but some of the more memorable and innovative trials that become available are the gravity changing fields and sticky walls. The game contains 50 levels of varying sizes and difficulties, with difficulty progression being mild enough not to alienate anyone (though at times the game is a tad easy). However there are some instances near endgame where the levels are far easier than they should be, damaging the otherwise well conceived progression. Levels tend to get larger and longer as the game progresses. This may seem like a dangerous decision, as the inevitable frustration that ensues when the player dies and has to redo the level may be intensified when the levels are long. However, there are only about two instances where the length is detrimental to the player’s enjoyment. The final level institutes a checkpoint system in order to increase the length without testing the player’s patience, creating a decidedly epic and fitting sendoff, but it’s a shame that this checkpoint system wasn’t used at more points throughout the game. For the player’s convenience there are two window size and a full screen mode, yet the windowed versions can be troublesome as some instances of rapid clicking can make the player accidentally minimize the game window.
Like the gameplay of Crazy Over Goo, the aesthetics and story are reserved and unassuming. The extent of the plot is basically an opening and closing cut scene, in which our yellow ball of gooey protagonist expresses its love for the viscous heroine. It’s very "your Princess is in another castle", and the game didn’t really need a story but the one Banov provided establishes a charming context that will produce a smile on even the most jaded of gamers. The visuals are crisp and simple, yet small flourishes show a level of graphical accomplishment that add to the overall polish of the game. The way the ball stretches and bounces is perfect, and the yellow glop that sprays out whenever the goo bounces changes depending on the force of the impact and the speed of the fling. It is truly devastating to see your goo ball dissolve into a shower of messy slop whenever you land on a spike. The color palette is well defined, with the game being vibrant and dynamic, yet the sprites are not oversaturated. However, there are some dubious decisions made in the visuals department. This game typically doesn’t handle greens well, with both the gravity fields and space planetoids sticking out like a sore thumb. Similarly, the fire particle systems are a bit underwhelming, and the choice to add blue square particles behind them is a debatable one. The rotate screen mechanic results in game text rotating as well, a frustrating error considering your unlock notices may appear upside down. Finally, the overuse of the Showcard Gothic font might grate on some people. However, these are only minor niggles, and on the whole the game has a well conceived idea of visual identity.
One of the more exciting parts of the game is the level editor. Crazy Over Goo includes a quite powerful level editor which allows players to create their own levels quickly and easily. User created levels can be made to almost the level of quality of the main campaign, although there are some notable mechanic exclusions, with some of the more interesting obstacles not being available. Obstacles are unlocked in the editor when they are conquered for the first time in the main game, meaning that players can muck about in the editor without fear of ruining future gameplay surprises, as well as ensuring players understand how the mechanic works before they use it in their levels. The Crazy Over Goo community is yet to have many user generated levels, but it’s early days and hopefully the community can make some unique and challenging levels in the near future.
The SFX in Crazy Over Goo enhance the experience dramatically. Banov has utilized volume to his advantage, with the strengths of the sound effects complimenting the magnitude of various on screen actions. Powerful throws result in loud twangings, and soft bumps drip out of your speakers with weak bounces. A particularly emotive moment for me was during the opening cutscene; the "goo love" noise is hilarious. The music is well conceived, and to try and combat music repetitiveness tracks are unlocked as the game goes on. I personally liked the music, but I found that muting it and playing my own songs in the background was a more suitable option for the stop and start style of gameplay. That said, the fact that you can have the best of both worlds should be noted.
Crazy Over Goo was a surprise. It will no doubt separate people; for some it will be innovative and addicting, and for others it will be shallow and derivative. However, it is an undeniably charming concept, and the level editor offers the potential for replayability should the community take to it. It’s most certainly a piece worthy of your time, and should you make the effort you may find yourself experiencing something refreshingly amiable.

DOWNLOAD CRAZY OVER GOO

Written by Matt Scorah

EXAMPLE > Camera Example (Floor_)

2009-06-23T02:37:00.000-07:00

This useful camera example essentially shows how photos can be taken in realistic style, using GameMaker. Objects in each shot are listed using a data structure and the example uses blend modes to give a good greyscale effect when the photo is taken. As far as negatives go, the example is a tad streamlined and some more features would be great. Also, to match the great presentation, a camera sound effect would be nice, but of course a bit unnecessary. Overall, this is a slightly unconventional example but could be put to good use.

CHECK OUT CAMERA EXAMPLE

GAME > CoilFighter (Ben Smith)

2009-06-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

CoilFighter is an intense vertical shoot-‘em-up with vivid colours and a series of increasingly challenging boss battles – eleven of them, in fact. The player is given a choice of three ships to control, each with their advantages and disadvantages, adding to the complexity and diversity in strategies to use in this difficult shooter. The gameplay itself is very testing – one look away from the screen could be to the player’s peril. Continually varying strategies and bullet formations from the enemy ship keeps the player alert and the experience fresh. The graphics generally look well done and most of them are consistent; the dynamic menu visuals are to my particular taste. The particle effects are perhaps a tad overdone, but the game genre justifies this characteristic. In addition, the audio aspect is fabulous, with a perfectly fitting range of dramatising music and sound effects to keep up the tension – especially important for a game of this kind.

DOWNLOAD COILFIGHTER

WEBSITE > Matt Makes Games V2 (Matt Thorson)

2009-06-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

This revision of Matt Makes Games may not appeal to everyone, but the new style and feel is very original – the site even includes appropriate implementation of JavaScript. The site is home to all of Matt Thorson’s (very good) published games, so there’s quite a lot to check out. The new version also includes a frequently updated blog, boasting an array of interesting posts, such as Jumper 3D and Matt’s endeavours with Flash. The design is very refreshing; Matt hasn’t gone over-the-top with dazzling visuals, but hasn’t left it too plain, either. In my opinion, the look is very near perfect. This portfolio is well worth the look and Matt’s regular blogging habit should keep you coming back for more.

VISIT MATT MAKES GAMES

GAME > Constellation Chaos (David Scatliffe)

2009-06-20T01:59:00.000-07:00

Constellation Chaos is a short yet fun yet challenging arcade game created for the Poppenkast 3 Hours Astronaut competition. The aim of the game is fairly clear-cut – the player must launch a tiny astronaut between randomly placed stars, through tracking the trajectory, forming a constellation while gaining points and avoiding wretched enemies which kill on impact. If the player misses a star and hits the edge of the screen, the game is over. Constellation Chaos is highly addictive; the ‘just one more go’ attribute encourages the player to get a score good enough to submit to the online leaderboard. The graphics come in the typical Poppenkast pixel retro style, but they actually do look good. The slightly repetitive music also adheres to the graphical style, with the sound effects following this trend as well.

DOWNLOAD CONSTELLATION CHAOS

Welcome

2009-06-19T02:33:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the all new KwikLook Blog. My name’s Darren Poole and I’m glad you’re reading this. After discontinuing the KwikLook magazine, I feel I still want to contribute to the GM community somehow, so I decided that a blog would allow me to continue talking about the latest GM stuff, without the boundaries and restrictions of a magazine. As you may have noticed, I’ve gone with a very streamlined and straightforward look to the blog. This kind of reinforces what I want to do with the blog – keep it simple and don’t make things overcomplicated. I really hope you enjoy reading the blog and I wish you come back on a regular basis to check up.

ABOUT

2009-06-10T06:13:00.000-07:00

This frequently updated blog is based around the popular game development program, GameMaker. We aim to provide you with a great service, where you can read well-written concise reviews of the latest and greatest GM games, websites and magazines among other things, such as exclusive interviews. It's certainly the best place to keep up-to-date with everything your typical GM gamer would want to know about.

CONTACT

2009-06-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to suggest anything or if you simply wish to join the team, then feel free to drop us an e-mail by, at kwiklook@live.co.uk.