Currently in beta, Fire With Fire mixes up the tower defense formula by adding in offense. Whether in online multiplayer matches or in the not-yet-available single player campaign, players must defend their own base with towers while also destroying their opponent’s. The former is achieved through customizable defenses and the latter via sending creeps at your enemies.

The ability to attack is limited by a one-minute cooldown timer which gives players a brief respite to focus on their own defenses. Placing towers can redirect the path that incoming creeps take, with the goal being to lengthen that path as much as possible. Individual towers can be upgraded using points earned through continuing to build more towers, and stronger tower types can eventually be unlocked in each group. There’s a fairly standard tradeoff when it comes to the tower specializations like offense firepower, range, and single-target vs. splash damage. However, there are some other interesting side effects thrown in like the ability to make the enemies pop up in the air.

The offensive system is just as entertaining as protecting your own base. Players choose the types of creeps they want to send from a handful of varieties and also the order in which they’ll come in. This adds an extra layer of strategy in that some creeps are damage soakers, some are weak but speedy, and others are offensive beasts. Running them in a particular order can be much more effective once you get a feel for the enemy’s defenses. Repeatedly sending creeps of a specific variety will also evolve them into a more ferocious version. Once combat actually starts, the game moves into a passive mode where the player is either watching their own base get attacked or seeing the outcome of their own offensive onslaught. The break is brief, though, and players will need to be ready to quickly resume focus on attacking and defending.

An area where the game shines – quite literally – is in the graphical style. The environments, towers, and creeps are all drawn in a cartoonish manner (think Castle Crashers with extra texturing), and there’s a definite ‘wow factor’ in the particle effects seen on the battlefield. Flaming explosions, singeing electricity, and other effects look downright beautiful. It’s really impressive, and it will be interesting to see whether all of that activity bogs down future mobile versions of the game.

Perhaps one of the best features of Fire With Fire is that it offers multiplatform and cross-platform play. You’ll be able to take on your PC-loving friends from the comfort of your couch or recliner. While PC and Mac will be the early recipients of this title, plans also include releases on OUYA, Android, and iOS. Although the current version is focused on multiplayer – and thankfully so – a single player campaign is also in development that will include leveling up by completing specific goals.

Fire With Fire is currently in closed beta, but appears to be progressing quite well. Skull Skill Studios has placed the game on Steam Greenlight, and their Kickstarter campaign is just about to end. Kickstarter backers will receive access to the closed beta, so check it out asap.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The developers have been kind enough to share their alpha gameplay footage, saying, “We’re making an effort to be more open about development – about the progress we make, the lessons we learn, and the incredible fun we have building this game.”

Check out the footage below, or visit the game site at www.emberconflict.com.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

I played through the entire demo, and I am not over-exaggerating when I say it becomes a very difficult, and at times, very infuriating game. There are many signs with funny comments and suggestions throughout the game that help to balance this out. But I still felt that in certain parts it was unintentionally hard, specifically during the boss fight, which was one of my main problems with the game.

The boss fight seemed to be too hard to be fun, and lacking in humor of any kind. Although I did beat it, I don’t think the joy of beating it warranted its difficulty. Difficulty options easily remedy this, but the game has other problems. I also found that the graphics were outdated, and that the music looped too many times. Other than the lack in the amount of music, I found it to be pleasing to the ears. They’ve also hired the artist Brent Black to do the music for the game since the demo was released, so things are looking promising. In the end, my problems with the game could easily be fixed by the time the game is officially released, and the gameplay itself was already enjoyable.

Overall, the game has lots of potential, and because it was successfully Kickstarted, it will probably end up being a very good game by release. The group of enthusiastic developers and artists from Atlanta, GA hope for the game to come out sometime in 2014.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Multiple armies will be available for players to command in either 1v1 or 2v2 matches. Each army will feature units that fit within the classic roles of Infantry, Ranged, Cavalry, and Support. Substantial Games is trying to make every unit in the game as unique as possible, like the Berserker who constantly regenerates health, or the “Puglings” who spawn a new Pug every time they kill an enemy unit, to help ensure that no two battles play out the same.

Matches are won by eliminating the opposing army, or by controlling Points of Capture (POCs). While complete annihilation is the most likely way you’ll win or lose a match, be on the lookout for crafty players who seek to control all of the POCs on a map, which will result in an immediate victory.

The Ember Conflict has a lot of potential to offer an engaging and innovative mobile gaming experience, and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a playable demo in the future.  A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but the developers are aiming for Fall 2014. Until then, you can check out some screen shots, enjoy the amazing concept art, and sign up for updates on the game’s website, www.emberconflict.com

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Super Obstacle Boy is a retro-style platformer for iPhone & iPad from indie developer, Matthias Falk. You’ll play as (spoiler alert: Super Obstacle Boy) as you run and jump, and then run and jump some more through 125+ levels of pixely, 8-bit glory to save your girlfriend who’s been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Negative. If it sounds like Super Meat Boy, that’s because it does (they’re not related, but they did meet at a party once). SOB will feature Game Center integration, achievements, and online leaderboards so you can compete with friends, family, and random people who totally hacked the game, because we all know there’s no way they scored 999,999,999. I mean, come on. My score is only 11,349. Don’t they have anything better to do?

A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but Falk is hoping to have the game available in the App Store later this month. For now, enjoy the trailer below, complete with chiptune soundtrack!

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

The developers at Nyamyam are out to prove that pop-up books aren’t just for kids. The UK-based studio is hard at work on Tengami, an Asian-inspired ‘point & touch’ adventure game. The game received an IndieCade nomination back in 2012 and development looks to be finally approaching the finish line.

Tengami is part puzzle game, part artistic experience. The game is presented as a pop-up book with Japan as the major influence for the setting. Minimalist, yet beautiful paper backdrops and architecture make up a textural landscape, and the player must guide a protagonist forward from one scene to another. A recent trailer (shown below) highlights the type of puzzle elements that the player must solve using pop-up book mechanics in order to proceed.

Tengami will be a multi-platform title with the initial iOS release targeted for the early part of this year. Nyamyam will be making an announcement this month regarding the actual release date. Later this year, the devs are also targeting a release on the Wii U eShop with ports also planned for PC and Mac. The PC and Mac versions as well as the soundtrack can be pre-ordered through Tengami’s website.

© 2014, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

It’s no secret that mobile gaming doesn’t have the best reputation amongst more traditional game enthusiasts. Whether mobile gaming needs to be more like console/pc gaming or those conventional forms should take a hint from the mobile sphere is something that constantly sparks heated arguments. Well, whatever side you’re on, Hardscore Games is attempting to make a statement with Star Admiral, their first game: mobile gaming can be better.

Star Admiral is set to be a massively multiplayer competitive strategy game for the mobile space, set in, well, space! Featuring PVP and tournaments, Star Admiral has players commanding a fleet of spaceships from a variety of races using mechanics reminiscent of trading card games. Players will upgrade their fleets and use all sorts of tactics and strategy to defeat their opponents. Like any good TCG or TCG-esque game, Star Admiral seems to have some really nice visuals and designs, albeit in 3D rather than art on cards. I’m a sucker for sci-fi settings and cool looking ships, so I’m looking forward to seeing the release of this game.

Hardscore Games promises a strong community focus and is standing against the standard “pay to win” model plaguing mobile games. The developer is also offering some incentives to get people paying attention to Star Admiral sooner: be one of the first 5,000 to sign up to  their newsletter and you’ll get an exclusive ship to use in the game. Be one of the first 1,000 to register for the forum, and get a Founding Member forum title. Finally, like their page on Facebook and you’ll have a chance at beta access.

Star Admiral currently has a ‘late 2013’ release date and will be free to own on iOS and Android. For more information, check out the game’s website.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

It’s been an important month already for the FIEA. For those unfamiliar with the acronym, it’s the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. This educational program is conducted on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida. The FIEA takes artists, programmers, and other talented individuals through a graduate program and teaches them the process of developing video games in a professional capacity. Students that graduate have been hired by a number of big-name companies, and the faculty includes instructors from Sony, Microsoft, and EA among others.

As part of this program, students form into teams to develop what are called “capstone games”. It’s a group project in which each team produces a video game which they must present after approximately six months worth of work. On August 2nd, the latest class of students, Cohort 9, showed off four games created by teams of about 15 members. Some of the projects have already made it to market, and all look like they’re worth keeping an eye on. So without further ado, here are the four games with descriptions provided by Adam Grayson, one of the students that worked on Grapple.

Pitch Jumper

Pitch Jumper is a mobile, music-based, sidescrolling platformer starring an adorable creature named Coda. The game lets you select songs from your device, and it dynamically generates the levels based off of the song’s length, beats, density, and tempo. You then control Coda and help him make it to the end of the level while collecting as many Noteys (small flying music note-shaped critters) as possible.

Pitch Jumper was developed for iOS devices and is currently in development for Android and Steam Greenlight as well. The game is already out on the iTunes App Store, and IT’S FREE, so check it out!

Grapple

Grapple is a fast-paced adventure game where your main form of locomotion is using a grappling gun to quickly zip and swing around the environment. You play as Amina, a young, carefree mechanic who just so happens to use a grappling gun in her daily work. This allows her to quickly and easily access hard to reach parts of the city where much of the city’s equipment is located. One day, an enemy nation attacks, and the whole city is thrown into turmoil. Though she is by no means a soldier, Amina’s grappling hook makes her the only one who can navigate the city quickly enough to stave off the enemies both on the ground and on the rooftops. Unsure about the position she’s forced into, Amina becomes the only thing standing between the giant, mobile carrier of the enemy, known as the Destrozar, and the total annihilation of Amina’s peaceful town.

Warp Derby

Warp Derby is a multiplayer demolition derby… with portals! You can choose and customize your vehicle’s parts, powerups, and skills and then compete against up to seven other players in a death match, team death match, or capture the flag-style tournament. Just when you think you have the upper hand, the opponents will knock you into their portals which will send you flying to your destruction, be it by bombs, a pit of molten metal, a giant crusher, a heat-seeking missile, a train, or a merciless combination or the sort. The more creative and unique the kill, the more points are rewarded. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Escherreal

Escherreal is a 3D/2D puzzle platformer. You play as Raffi, the not-so-bright nephew of M. C. Escher, as he is sucked into the crazy and disorienting world of Escher’s mirror marble. Utilizing the mirror marbles and mirror marble shards in this world, Raffi must flip gravity every which way in order to progress through the environment. Even then, Raffi must also obtain and use Escher’s experimental Infinispecs to switch the world from 3D to 2D and back to gain a new perspective on life and escape his uncle’s mischievous world.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

On September 5th, an update rolls out that adds two new difficulty modes: light (easy) and shadow (hard). Each mode will include new graphical styles, soundtracks, and leader boards. Check them out below.

If you haven’t bought it already, PUK definitely deserves your dollars. Grab it on the Google Play Store or for iOS. You can read a little more about the update on Laser Dog’s blog.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.

Late last year I had the pleasure of reviewing Buddha Finger, a charming kung-fu themed game for the iPad and developed by Lady Shotgun Games. The writing and music for that title was handled by Katharine Neil who is about to release a game under her own label, Cheap Drunk Games. That game is Alone in the Park and I had a chance to get my hands on an iPad preview build. This text-based/graphical adventure game hybrid impressed me with how the game is structured and the casual feel of playing it. I’ll save a full review for when it’s released, so for now here are some relevant facts and impressions about what to expect.

The setup for Alone in the Park is that the player’s character discovers a mysterious letter indicating that there’s a treasure to be found in a nearby park. The location of that treasure is uncovered by finding map pieces through exploration and puzzle-solving. Along the way, the player encounters a variety of oddball characters most of whom will require some sort of favor to be completed in order to gain important information or a map piece from them. Naturally the process of completing that goal isn’t simple, and will often require backtracking to find other clues and achieve other goals in order to progress further.

Uncover new locations and characters in the park through exploration.

Perhaps the most interesting element of Alone in the Park is how it is played. Half of the user interface is a text area used to describe what’s going on and display conversations between the characters. The other half of the GUI is the graphical portion of the game. By default it will display the park map while the player is exploring. The entire map isn’t visible at one time, and key locations in the park must be discovered by walking near them (think ‘fog of war’) at which point they are drawn on the map. The player enters those locations in order to find objects, animals, new characters and in general to help the story progress. Any objects, clues, or characters that are encountered receive an icon in a tray for use later.

Interaction with the characters is handled in a simple, straightforward approach from the player’s perspective. The developer intentionally focuses on not including complicated conversation trees. Instead, the player can drag an image of an object or creature they’ve encountered onto the picture of another character in order to potentially initiate a new conversational topic (only some topics are conversation-worthy to a particular character). It’s in this manner that the plot is developed and puzzles are solved. I couldn’t help but be reminded of my experiences playing the old LucasArts adventure games like Sam & Max Hit the Road. Like the characters in that game, Alone in the Park plays heavily on stereotypes. The characters are pretty one-note like the spiritual healer, the eco warrior, the businessman and so on.  Cheap Drunk gets a lot of comedic mileage out of it thanks to text-based storytelling full of witty sarcasm and a heavy dose of puns and innuendo.

Although the characters encountered are one-dimensional, there’s plenty of humor to be found.

Aside from a bit of nostalgia, what I enjoyed most about the preview build was the leisurely way in which it can be played. There’s a log of all current tasks and the latest progress on them, so it’s really the kind of game that someone can play for brief bursts and come back to with little trouble. The final game will be a short experience (an estimated four hours or so), but that seems well-suited for a casual mystery. Alone in the Park is scheduled to release on June 15th for PC, Mac, Linux, and the iPad. Be sure to check back here at The Indie Mine for a full review. In the meantime, you can find the trailer below.

© 2013, The Indie Mine. All rights reserved.