CanadianGameDevs.com Podcast

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Events:

- July Game Writers Circle + Social (July 30 @ 6:30 pm EST)

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 8 am - 8 pm EST)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19)

Game Dev Jobs:

- PixelNauts (St. Catherines, ON): https://canadiangamedevs.com/jobs/game-developer-jobs-pixelnauts-3d-animator-community-manager

- Canuck Play (Peterborough, ON): https://canadiangamedevs.com/jobs/game-developer-jobs-canuck-play-unity-game-developer-unity-technical-animator-qa-tester

News:

- GUNPIG: Firepower For Hire Out Now on Steam

- Panzer Paladin Blazes onto Steam and Switch

- Wrest VR Releasing Later This Month

- Echo Generation Announced during Xbox Showcase

- Star Renegades Release Date Announced

- Mark Darrah Confirms They're 'Making Progress' on Dragon Age 4

- Beans Team Indie Studio Founded in Toronto, Partnered with Devolver

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1 - Echo Generation by Cococucumber (@cococucumberco) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, Releasing 2021. “Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure game about a gang of kids investigating supernatural occurrences while battling monsters and mechs to save their small town.”

2 - Quartet partly by Tyler Deren (@TylerDeren) in Edmonton, AB. Wishlist on Steam, Releasing Late 2021. “A series of unlikely train robberies. A mysterious deck of cards. A fleet of deadly airships. An accidental mage. Choose from four stories, in any order, and see how they eventually intertwine in this turn-based RPG.”

3 - Skully by Finish Line Games (@FinishLineGames) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, Releasing August 4, 2020. “On a mysterious remote island, a skull washes up on shore and is reawakened by an enigmatic deity. Dubbed Skully, the newly reanimated being has been summoned to intervene in a war between the deity’s three siblings, whose quarrel jeopardizes the island they call home.”

Events:

- IGDA Winnipeg “Games We Love” Livestream (July 23 @ 6 pm EST)

- Games Writing Working Group (July 23 @ 6:30 pm EST)

- July Game Writers Circle + Social (July 30 @ 6:30 pm EST)

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 8 am - 8 pm EST)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19)

News:

- Shakedown: Hawaii Getting Physical Release

- Rainbow Six Siege Collegiate League Announced

- Rogue Legacy 2 Early Access Coming a Little Later

- Eidos-Montréal's Marvel's Avengers Getting Multiple Betas, More Details Revealed

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1 - Nuts developed by Joon (Reykjavik), Pol (Montreal), Muuutsch (Berlin), Char & Torfi (Copenhagen) with publishing support by Noodle Cake (@noodlecakegames) in Saskatoon, SK. Wishlist on Steam, coming 2021. “A single-player surveillance mystery set in a remote forest - record the squirrels, report your findings… and uncover the secret that the curious creatures are hiding.”

2 - Citywars Savage (@CitywarsNetwork) by 01 Studio in Quebec. Wishlist on Steam, Coming Soon. “Citywars Savage is an indie MMORPG. Explore the worlds, gather resources to create tools and weapons; enchant your items to protect yourself from the enemies scattered throughout the worlds, and learn the interesting back stories to each creature presented through an amazing quest line!”

3 - Stacksquatch (@stacksquatch) by JScott (@AKindlyOrc) in the Canadian Northwest. Wishlist on Steam, Releasing August 2020. “Sit back and stack with Dogtective in a colourful, floating world of cryptids in this VR action-puzzle game.”

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

So we talk about how it feels to try and cover a Ubisoft Press Conference while the company continues to shit itself in public.

We also discuss Emergent Fates out now on iOS, 3720 to 1 also out on mobile as well as Toxicant entering Steam Early Access later this month and Curved Space entering Beta on Steam.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

Events:

- IGDA Winnipeg “Games We Love” Livestream (July 23 @ 6 pm EST)

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 8 am - 8 pm EST)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19)

News:

- Emergent Fates out now on iOS

- 3720 to 1 out now on phones

- Toxicant Entering Steam Early Access Later this Month

- Space-warping arcade shooter Curved Space blasts into open beta on Steam July 7

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1 - Monster Crown by Studio Aurum (@crowns_dev) in Newfoundland & Labrador. Wishlist on Steam, coming to Early Access on July 31. “Dive into a dark world where monsters rule and make pacts with them to defeat an evil young woman seeking power. Hunt, battle, tame and breed monsters to create your own legacy. Together with your monsters, you can restore the balance to Crown Island.”

2 - The Last Taxi (@TheLastTaxi) by ZenFri Inc (@ZenFri) in Winnipeg, MB. Wishlist on Steam, Coming Soon. “You are the last human taxi driver in a desperate future where the last remains of civilization are propped up by surveillance, automation and human modification. The hours are long, and the pay is terrible – but hey, at least you have a job!”

3 - Zorya from Madlife Divertissement in Montréal. Wishlist on Steam. Coming Feb 2021. “Two goddesses: one fallen, the other trying to help. The fallen one can only navigate the world by staying in the shadows while the other can help by moving the sun. Travel this vast world to find the powers of Aysu... together!”

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

Overview:

This week Steve and Stephan discuss the next-gen price hike we learned about this past week, specifically regarding NBA 2K21's $10 higher price tag on PS5 and Xbox Series X. We also discuss Frolic Lab's flipping the Switch (snap) on Dune Sea, Ubisoft trying to announce a new game amidst ongoing sexual assault and harassment allegations against many of their employees and Terrorarium leaving Early Access at the end of the month.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

Events:

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 9 am - 9 pm AST)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19)

News:

- Frolic Labs Releases Dune Sea on Switch

- Ubisoft Montréal Announces New Battle Royale 'Hyper Scape'

- Terrorarium Launch Date Announced

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1 - Fault by @Strange__Matter in Montréal, QC. Wishlist on Steam, coming to Early Access on July 17, 2020. “A next-gen multiplayer online battle arena game.”

2 - LOVE by @Rocketship_Park in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, releasing TBD 2020. “Every life has a story. Every story has regret. But what if you could change the past? LOVE is a puzzle game about finding the things we’ve lost in ourselves and the people who help us find them.”

3 - Lucifer Within Us by @KitfoxGames in Montréal, QC. Wishlist on Steam, releasing when ‘daemons are purged’. “You are a digital exorcist, seeing beyond this reality into alternate timelines of the accused. Solve murders, purify the possessed, and purge their daemons in this non-linear mystery.”

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

This week we try and work through the deluge of sexual assault, abuse and rape allegations levied against so many Ubisoft developers this past week at several of their Canadian studios, against many of their high-profile employees. It's a tough and important conversation.

We also discuss mobile JRPG Emergent Fates, Rogue Legacy 2's release date, Discord exclusives coming to Steam and more.

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

Events:

- VRTO Conference (June 6th – July 6th) -  And for the next 72 hours only, use "CGDxVRTO" to claim a 50% Discount on a Pro Pass! 

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 9:00am - 9:00pm)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19) 

News:

- JRPG Inspired Emergent Fates Comes To iOS July 7th

- Sabotage Studio's Sea of Stars Gets A New Trailer

- Discord Exclusive 'King of the Hat' Coming to Steam

- Rogue Legacy 2 Release Date Announced

- New Don't Starve Mobile Game Announced

- A Summer with the Shiba Inu Out Now on Consoles

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1 - My Train World published by Double Blit Games Inc. (@DoubleBlit) in Edmonton, Alberta. Wishlist on Steam. “Take playing with toy trains into the virtual world with ‘My Train World’! Master a variety of puzzles at different difficulty levels in Puzzle Mode. Let your imagination flow in the Sandbox Mode and build the train-set of your dreams.”

2 - Jett The Far Shore by Superbrothers in Quebec and Pine Scented Software. Wishlist on Epic Games Store. “An interstellar expedition to carve out a future for a people haunted by oblivion in this cinematic action-adventure.

3 - Spinch (@spinchthegame) by Queen Bee Games (@queenbeegames) in Prince Edward Island. Wishlist on Steam. “Spinch is a tight and precise platformer with a bubbling psychedelic world full of misshaped and malformed enemies. Assume your true form as Spinch and use quick reflexes to dash, wall jump, and battle eccentric bosses on your quest to rescue your missing litter of offspring.”

Sources on Ubisoft Discussion:

- Broad Games Industry Allegations: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akz3b8/sexual-harassment-alligations-gaming-ubisoft-bungie-cards-against-humanity

- AC Valhalla Director Steps down: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5dzdzn/assassins-creed-valhalla-director-steps-down-amid-scandal

- Ubisoft Toronto product and brand marketing manager Andrien Gbinigie accused by multiple women of sexual assault and rape: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/365316/Ubisoft_deeply_concerned_with_sexual_assault_allegations_against_multiple_employees.php

- Ubisoft suspend vice presidents/cofounders Tommy François and Maxime Béland: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-26/metoo-in-gaming-two-ubisoft-executives-placed-on-leave 

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

Events:

- Interactive Ontario Online Town Hall (June 22 at 1pm)

- DigiBC Town Hall: COVID-19 Assistance for Indie IDM Studios (Mon, June 22, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PST)

- Game Dev Atlantic (September 18 from 9:00am - 9:00pm)

- Game Devs of Color Expo (September 19)

News:

- Grindstone Update Adds New Levels, Items and More

- Motive Shows First Gameplay for Star Wars: Squadrons

- EA Announces Star Wars Squadrons - Coming To PS4, Xbox One, PC This Fall

- Square Enix Opens New Studio in Québec

- Golf On Mars Out Now on Mobile Devices

- Materials Free, Rules-Lite RPG 'Runt' Successfully Kickstarted

- Graceful Explosion Machine Getting Nintendo Switch Physical Release

- First Person Shooter P.A.M.E.L.A Gets Full Release On Steam

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

Zero-G Gunfight by Devil's Cider Games (@DevilCiderGames) in Ontario. Wishlist on Steam. “A 2D arena shooter set in outer space where you use your guns to move and kill each other!”

Cepheus Protocol by Halcyon Winds partly by 2 Canadians including Alejandra V (@bballchick) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam. “In this open-world real-time strategy game, you're tasked with finding patient zero before an alien virus takes over San Francisco. Command your squad, defend your base, and stop the Pangu virus.”

Slumber Clause by Copychaser Games (@copychaser) in Calgary, Alberta. Wishlist on Steam. “From the creator of Speed Dating for Ghosts comes a new weird text adventure about death and sleep paralysis set in the late 1980s.”

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

We talk about Meagan's path to game development, her experience in school, running a game studio and the financial pressures that come with it, her thoughts on Native representation in games and media as a Native creator and much more. I hope you enjoy listening to the conversation as much as I enjoyed having it!

Follow Meagan on Twitter @byrne_meagan and Achimostawinan Games @AchimoGames.

If you enjoyed this interview follow @StephanReilly and @CanadaGameDevs for more.

Overview:

This week we pick out the Canadian games from PlayStation's PS5 Livestream (and talk about all the other ones too). We also discuss Outlast Trials, A Short Hike's OST Vinyl release, Griftlands coming to Steam and more!

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

Events:

Interactive Ontario Online Town Hall (Monday, June 22 @ 1 PM EST)

Game Devs of Colour Expo (Saturday, September 19, 2020)

News:

A Short Hike Getting Vinyl OST Release

Torn Banner Studios Announces Chivalry 2 for Current and Next-Gen Consoles - Will Also Include Cross-Play

Goodbye Volcano High Announced from KO_OP Mode

Superbrothers Announces Jett: The Far Shore

The Outlast Trials Releasing 2021

Griftlands Now in Early Access on Steam

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

Game Director Story by Double Blit Games Inc. (@DoubleBlit) in Edmonton, Alberta. Wishlist on Steam. “Game Director Story is an unflinching and satirical look behind-the-scenes at how big-budget AAA games are made. Based on first-hand accounts by industry veterans, Players experience the emotional roller coaster of guiding a team through the agonizing decisions and compromises needed to ship a game.”

Curved Space by Only By Midnight (@OnlyByMidnight) in Edmonton, Alberta. Wishlist on Steam. “Curved Space is an intense arcade shooter about battling cosmic energy spiders across warped, physics-defying battlefields. Space stations and asteroids curve and loop around themselves. Up? Down? Who needs those when you’ve got a spaceship, guns and swarms of bugs to blast?”

Watch This Space by It's Anecdotal (@ItsAnecdotal) in Christchurch, New Zealand & Montréal, Canada. Wishlist on Steam. “A multiplayer game about shooting asteroids; about racing asteroids; about eating asteroids; about being the asteroid; and about rules that change.”

Remember to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. Patrons get the show 2 days early!

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE PROTESTS:

Minnesota Freedom Fund

Where to Donate Your Money and Time to Help Protesters

Anti-Racist Organizations To Support Right Now in Canada

BUY HUMBLE’S BUNDLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

Check out the Jobs on our Site!

BUY ITCH.IO'S BUNDLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITY 

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE PROTESTS:

Minnesota Freedom Fund 

Where to Donate Your Money and Time to Help Protesters

Anti-Racist Organizations To Support Right Now in Canada

In this interview, Stephan talks to Tomas Guinan, a solo indie developer from Truro-based indie studio Spoony Bard Productions (@SpoonyBardToma), whose NES-styled retro brawler Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl launched on Steam and Nintendo Switch in early May.

We talk about Tomas’ fascinating path to game development from making flash games as a kid to working in a call centre before ultimately getting to develop Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl.

Tomas' work is also really interesting in that several of his games can be played on the NES and in fact are printed on carts by Limited Run Games. We have a fascinating conversation, I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

You can pick up Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl on Steam and on Nintendo Switch. If you enjoyed this interview follow @StephanReilly and @CanadaGameDevs for more!