CanadianGameDevs.com Podcast

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Overview:

This week we witnessed protests against police and riots all across Canada and the US, while at the same time we had the first every Wholesome Direct showcase of wholesome indie games. Quite the contrast but we do our best to keep covering the events, gaming jobs and new games and updates.

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

Events:

Dirty Rectangles ONLINE (Wednesday, June 10, 8:00 PM EST)

Breakfast Game Audio Club (Wednesday, June 3, 9:00 AM EST)

News:

Kitten Cup Studio Reveals Debut Project 'Pekoe'

Knight Squad Charges onto Switch Next Week

SPECTACLE Out Now on itch.io

Retro Adventure Game Boreal Tales Out Now on Steam

Worse Than Death Getting a Sequel Comic Book

Snacko Launches Kickstarter Campaign

French Developer Dontnod Entertainment Opens Studio in Montréal

Possession 1881 Coming to Steam Next Week

Dépanneur Nocturne Out Now on Steam

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

HARDSPACE: SHIPBREAKER coming Summer 2020 from BlackbirdInteractive (@InsideBBI) in Vancouver, BC. Wishlist on Steam. “Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!”

Project Witchstone from Spearhead Games (@SpearheadMtl) in Montreal. Wishlist on Steam. “In a living and reactive world, players will be offered unprecedented options to role play their character and influence their environment, capturing the fun and freedom of a pen & paper RPG campaign.”

Frequency Shift coming September 1 from Virtex Edge Design in Toronto. Wishlist on Steam. “Drive the world and make it dance as you piece together the geometric puzzles and build musical tracks that are intertwined.”

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Valley - PS4, Xbox One, Steam - “Valley is a First-Person adventure unlike any other. Hidden deep within a remote region of the Rocky Mountains, you find yourself bewildered within a secluded valley. With the power of a recently discovered L.E.A.F. suit (Leap Effortlessly though Air Functionality), run and jump your way through beautiful forests, dangerous ruins and vast environments all the while utilizing the power to control life and death to uncover the startling secrets of the mysterious valley.”

@StephanReilly’s Pick: Curses 'N Chaos - Initial release date: August 18, 2015 - “FIGHT OR DIE! Cursed by the evil Wizard King, bounty hunters Lea and Leo are chased by every monster in the kingdom and the Grim Reaper himself! There's only one way to get rid of the curse; the legendary Elixir of Life! But how to get the ingredients? FIGHT MONSTERS!”

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!

Going into 10 WEEKS of self-isolation, the Steve's downloaded Apex Legends on PS4 this week in honour of Respawn opening a Vancouver studio! We also talk about events, gaming jobs in BC and a whole host of new games and updates.

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

Events:

Dirty Rectangles ONLINE (Wednesday, June 10, 8:00 PM EST)

News: 

Borderlands 3 DLC Goes Western

Foundation Update 1.6.0

Vetrix Released for Steam VR

Respawn Opens Studio in Vancouver

Super Mega Baseball 3 Out Now On Consoles And Steam

The Long Dark Gets New Fearless Navigator Mode in Free Update

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

That Tiny Spaceship by We Make Small Games in Calgary, AB. Wishlist on Steam. “A small retro-inspired indie shmup that takes inspiration from the pixel games of yesterday and combines it with modern game engine technology.”

City Game Studio by Binogure Studio (@Binogure) in Montréal, QC. Wishlist on Steam. “You are the founder of your video game company. The starting point belongs to you, in your garage, or think big instead of small by acquiring your first location. At the end of the day, your decisions will make your studio a success and will mark Video Game History.”

Foundation by Polymorph Games (@polymorph_games) in Québec City, QC. Wishlist on Steam. “Foundation is a grid-less, sprawling medieval city building simulation with a heavy focus on organic development, monument construction and resource management.” 

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Home by Benjamin Rivers in Toronto. Released on PS4, PSVita, PC (itch.io, Steam, etc), iOS.

“Home is a unique horror adventure set in a beautifully-realized pixel world. It’s a murder mystery with a twist—because you decide what ultimately happens.”

@StephanReilly’s Pick: The Low Road by XGen Studios in Edmonton. Initially released July 26, 2017 for PC, now on Mac, Linux & Switch.

"Set in the 1970s automobile world, The Low Road is a point-and-click graphic adventure which follows a team of corporate spies dedicated to the protection (and appropriation) of game-changing industry secrets. Sporting a unique visual style inspired by gouache paintings and a pulsating experimental score, The Low Road will captivate players through intricate puzzles, branching moral dilemmas, and a quirky cast of memorable characters.” 

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!

In this interview, Stephen talks to Muddassir Mahmood and Matthew Walach of Insert Coin Accounting (@ins_coin_acc), a company who offers full-service accounting, audit & tax credits for indie gaming studios.

Based in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver Muddassir and Matthew talk about everything from applying for tax credits to all the COVID-19 relief available for studios.

If you enjoyed this interview follow @StephenLCrane and @CanadaGameDevs for more!

Months of self-isolation have skewed our perception of time but we're pretty sure it's still 2020. This week we talk news, upcoming indie games, all the pseudo-E3 Livestreams, an event or two, LOADS of game dev jobs and more!

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

Events:

Toronto Unity Developers Digital Meetup (Thursday, May 21, 2020, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM EST)

News:

Ubisoft Announces E3-Style Ubisoft Foward Livestream for July

Strategy Game Wasteland Raiders Coming To Steam This Year

Creature in the Well Getting Physical Release

Winding Worlds Out Now on Apple Arcade

A Fold Apart is Coming to PS4 & Xbox One Next Week

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

LEMNIS GATE by Ratloop Canada (@RatloopCanada) in Montréal, Québec. Wishlist on Steam. “LEMNIS GATE presents a revolutionary new way to play a First-Person Shooter with its unique time travel gameplay mechanics. Spanned over multiple rounds, players take turns altering the future in this strategic turn-based mind-bending experience.”

Deceive Inc. by Sweet Bandits Studios (@Sweet_Bandits) in Québec. Wishlist on Steam. “Go undercover as the world’s greatest spies in this tense multiplayer game of subterfuge. Disguise as anyone, deploy an arsenal of high-tech gadgets or neutralize the competition. As long as you extract with the objective, no trick is too dirty when you work for DECEIVE INC.”

Paralives (@ParalivesGame) by @_amasse, @RoxaneParalives & @Khalitirkai. Wishlist on Steam. “You live and then you die. But at least do it in a nice house! Paralives is an upcoming life simulation indie game. Build your dream house, create some characters and manage their lives the way you want!”

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime - Initially released for Xbox One & Steam on September 9, 2015. Also on PlayStation 4 & Nintendo Switch. "A frantic 1- or 2-player couch co-op action space shooter set in a massive neon battleship. Only through teamwork can you triumph over the evil forces of Anti-Love, rescue kidnapped space-bunnies, and avoid a vacuumy demise."

@StephanReilly’s Pick: Contrast by Compulsion Games - Initially released for PS4 & Steam on November 15, 2013. Also on Xbox One, PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360. "A puzzle/platform game where you can move between a fantastic 3D world and a mysterious shadowy universe in 2D in the blink of an eye. Delve into a dreamlike and surreal 1920s world, inspired by the performance art world of vaudeville and film noir, and cradled by a smooth and sultry jazzy ambience."

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!

In this interview, Stephan talks to Michael Long, a jack of all trades from Saskatoon-based indie studio Foolish Mortals (@Foolish_M_Games) whose strategy/sim Radio General launched on Steam in early April 2020.

Stephan talks to Michael Long about the game development scene in Saskatchewan, releasing a game during a global pandemic, how they get the voice recognition tech working in their game and the extensive research that went into the game’s many historically accurate battles!

You can pick up Radio General on Steam. If you enjoyed this interview follow @StephanReilly and @CanadaGameDevs for more!

The Steve's talk Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the battle for the soul of the open-world genre... as well as some upcoming Canadian-developed games and online events!

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

Events:

Improving Your Job Interview Skills presentation w/ Pixelles and Stadia (May 13th @ 12pm EST) Register Here

 Dirty Rectangles presentation from Dave Proctor (May 13th @ 8pm EST) Watch Here 

News:

Luigi's Mansion 3's New DLC Releases Early

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Announced, Development Led by Ubisoft Montréal

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

Rogue Legacy 2 from Cellar Door Games in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam. "Rogue Legacy 2 is what you'd get if you mashed Rogue Legacy and a sequel together. That means it has all the trappings of a typical rogue-like (randomized runs, changing characters, and more), but with persistent upgrades, and persistent dead heirs."

Chivalry 2 from Torn Banner Studios in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on the Epic Games Store. "Chivalry 2 is a multiplayer first person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles. Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era - from the thunder of cavalry charges, to storms of flaming arrows, to sprawling castle sieges and more."

Marvel’s Avengers developed in part by Eidos  Montréal. Wishlist on Steam. "Marvel’s Avengers is an epic, third-person, action-adventure game that combines an original, cinematic story with single-player and co-operative gameplay*. Assemble into a team of up to four players online, master extraordinary abilities, customize a growing roster of Heroes, and defend the Earth from escalating threats."

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Tap Titans 2 released initially on December 13th, 2016 for iOS and Android. Developed by Game Hive Corp. (@GameHive) in Toronto, ON. "Grab your sword, assemble a team of heroes, and join Sword Master on an epic adventure to defeat the mighty Titan Lords in over 70,000 levels."

@StephanReilly’s Pick: Mass Effect 2 released initially on January 26, 2010. Available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3. Developed by BioWare (@bioware) in Edmonton, AB. "A sci-fi puzzle-platformer of cataclysmic proportions! You’re an ill-tempered blob that grows in size by swallowing everything in its path. Evolve from a tiny captive into a world-eating giant. Use your mutant blob powers to devour the pathetic humans and all of civilization!"

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!

On this episode, Steve and Stephan detail their gradual loss of any conception of time and meaning... just kidding we talk about upcoming Canadian releases, Game Pass vs PSNow and more!

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

Events:

XP Game Developers Online (April 28-29)

News:

Classic Revival Streets of Rage 4 Releases April 30th

Atomicrops Leaving Early Access May 28th, Coming to Steam & Consoles

The Long Dark Now Available on Xbox Game Pass

Gord Games releasing Ayre and the Crystal Comet on PC Steam and itch.io on May 19th

Unto the End Difficulty Clarification from the Dev

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

1. Phantom Brigade from Brace Yourself Games (@BYG_Vancouver) in Vancouver, BC. Wishlist on Steam. " Phantom Brigade is a hybrid turn-based & real-time tactical RPG, focusing on in-depth customization and player driven stories. Outnumbered and out-gunned, lead The Brigade through a desperate campaign to retake their war-torn homeland."

On this episode, Steve and Stephan give their impressions on strategy/sim Industries Of Titan as well as octogenarian dating game Later Daters, two very different games out now. We talk about Sea Of Stars record-setting Kickstarter campaign and a solo indie dev’s debut title!

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

Events:

XP Game Developers Online (April 28-29)

News:

GUNPIG: Firepower For Hire Blasts onto itch.io

Industries Of Titan Out Now in Early Access

Gears Tactics Launching April 28 on PC - Xbox One Version Coming Later

Sea Of Stars Now Most Successful Canadian Kickstarter Ever

Later Daters Part One Out Now on PC and Switch

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

Unto The End from Stephen Danton (@2TonStudios) a Canadian couple living in Berkeley, CA. Wishlist on Steam, Xbox, Xbox Gamepass, Switch and PlayStation coming 2020. “Alone and outmatched, a father now faces a desperate journey through unfamiliar lands to make it home to his family.”

Streets of Rage 4 from Guard Crush Games (@Guard_Crush) in Montréal, Québec. Wishlist on Steam coming April 30, 2020. “Amongst the best beat’em up series ever created, jammin’ ‘90s beats and over the top street fighting, the iconic series Streets of Rage comes back with a masterful tribute to and revitalization of the classic action fans adore.”

Atomicrops (published by Raw Fury & developed by a small remote team with lead artist @tbdxn in Toronto, ON). Wishlist on Epic Games Store, Steam and coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch. “Atomicrops is an action-packed roguelite farming simulator where you must cultivate and defend the last farm in the post-apocalypse wasteland. Farm mutated crops, marry townsfolk, and kill every mutant creature that tries to invade!”

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Fortified - released February 3, 2016. Available on Xbox One, PC developed by Clapfoot Games in Toronto, Ontario.

@StephanReilly’s Pick: Flinthook - Released April 14, 2017. Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac. Developed by Tribute Games in Montréal, Québec.

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!

This week we're looking at a slew of awesome upcoming Canadian indies, highlight some vintage Canadian games and talk about why Resident Evil 3 Remake isn't as good as 2's Remake but still okay...

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

Events:

All Canceled, Stay Inside!

News:

Crew 167: The Grand Block Odyssey Out Now on Steam

Shooting Blaster Big Bang Boom Coming to PC This Week

A Fold Apart Flips onto PC, Switch and Apple Arcade This Friday

Wishlist These Upcoming Canadian Games:

Industries of Titan from Brace Yourself Games (@BYG_Vancouver) in Vancouver, BC. Wishlist on Epic Game Store, Steam + Other platforms TBD. “Create a sprawling industrial city. Compete with the other Great Houses of Titan for resources, territory, and power. Do battle with ships, technology, influence, or the sheer productive power of your factories. Stake your claim to the Industries of Titan in this innovative sim/strategy game!”

The Crimson Diamond from Julia Minamata (@JuliaMinamata). Wishlist on Steam. “Follow amateur geologist and reluctant detective Nancy Maple to the fictional ghost town of Crimson, Ontario to investigate the discovery of a massive diamond in this retro-inspired, EGA text parser mystery adventure!”

Super Rocket Ride from Cosmocat (@cosmocatgames) in Dartmouth, NS and Unruly Games (@UnrulyGames) in Ho-Chi-Minh, Vietnam. Wishlist now on Steam. “It can best be described as a cross between old school lander games and classic platformers of the SNES era: a simple control scheme, lush pixel art, and unforgiving levels fraught with obstacles and hazards.”

Try These Vintage Canadian Indies:

@StephanReilly’s Pick: Crypt of the Necrodancer - April 23, 2015 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iOS, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems, PlayStation Vita - “Crypt of the NecroDancer is a roguelike rhythm video game developed and published by Canadian independent game studio Brace Yourself Games. The game takes fundamental elements of a roguelike dungeon exploration game, and adds a beat-matching rhythm game set to an original soundtrack written by Danny Baranowsky.”

@StephenLCrane’s Pick: Super Timeforce Ultra - May 14th, 2014 Xbox One, Xbox 360 - later to PC, PS4, PSVita, OS, Linux - "Super Time Force Ultra is an insane platformer filled with robots and dinosaurs and fun and time travel... sometimes all at the same time!"

Checkout the Jobs on our Site!