Pig-Min (English)

News : [Avernum 6] is released.

2010-03-06T10:17:04+09:00

[Avernum 6], which is Very hardcore indie RPG, is released. Spiderweb Software might not make easy game, however some core fans are very fond of their works. [Avernum 6] is last of Avernum series, and they will announce another new series in the coming summer.

News : [Portal 2] is coming.

2010-03-06T10:11:19+09:00

According to Valve press release, [Portal 2] is coming. Will be released at next holiday, however I'm not sure what holiday it is. (Please make sure Pig-Min is run by Korean, not very familiar with American holiday.)

News : [Shank] will be published by EA, for PSN / XBLA / PC.

2010-03-05T17:30:29+09:00

via Gamasutra

EA Partners has published some third party games, as [Rock Band] / [Left 4 Dead] / [Brutal Legend]. They contracted first 1 Digital-Distribution games, which are Hothead Games' [Deathspank] (feat. Ron Gilbert] & Klei Entertainment's [Shank].

[Shank] will be released for PSN / XBLA / PC.

This is [Shank]. Looks very promising, even if it's opposite to [Eets].

Review : [Maru] (2010)

2010-03-05T16:23:35+09:00

Developer : Jesse Venbrux
Release year : 2010
Price : Freeware

Death & Life, I & Species.

Easy, but not so easy.

'Man of Karoshi' Jesse Venbrux released another new game, while he got older & learned more technique. [Maru] seems to be similar to his earlier work [Frozzd], but has [Karoshi] spirit as 'Death(Suicide)', and furthermore it's somewhat improved as 'Next generation takes died ancestors way'. Ending is somewhat, weird or interesting.

Where to download : Official blog

P.S. : If you can't do the Ending, just watch this Youtube playthrough.

News : [Defense Grid : The Awakening] has FREE DLC for Steam!

2010-03-04T20:58:52+09:00

Suddenly, [Defense Grid : The Awakening] has update for Steam. It's released 2 years ago, last update was over 6 months ago, so I thought it's another Steam error. I was wrong. It was real update for DLC setup.

I think they decide to release DLC in the future, to earn some extra money. However they gave all of us FREE DLC [Borderlands], which has 4 additional maps. I played 2 of them until now, somewhat difficult / but still interesting.

If you have this game at Steam, try it today once again. :)

Review : [Altitude] (2009)

2010-03-03T21:08:39+09:00

Developer : Nimbly Games
Release year : 2009
Price : 9.99$ (Steam Indie Game sale 2.00$ until this midweek, 9.99$ for whole Steam Indie Game pack for 7 games.)

Well made 2D Airplane shooter, 'Online Game'.

I didn't know this game is such good, even I saw that trailer earlier.

Just using Arrow Keys + S D F, so basic movement is very easy, but could be very tricky 2D Airplane shooter. It has 'Stall', if you go up too much, which you could solve as going Downside / turn on the Engine. That 'Stall' makes this game somewhat difficult, for rookie like me, however that also makes more interesting. And if I count this game except for Online stuffs, almost perfect, unbelivably well made.

But this is 'Online Game', and you could do only Tutorial & Skirmish alone. Maybe due to that sale, I could find around 50 - 70 (maybe less than 100) people at now. However, as living in Korea, I could see every rooms are over 200 Ping, while I'm kicked over 300 Ping. (Anyway I played some game in 240 Ping room, which was almost only 1 with people playing under 300.) Maybe could be good for people in US, but not for abroad. (Europe might have good Ping servers? Not sure.)

Online stuff is not so fascinating, while this is 'Online Game'. So I'm not sure 9.99$ purchase could satisfy me (and others). However it's on sale, 2$ for this / 9.99$ for 7 indie games. At least, this is worth your 2$.

Where to buy : Official Homepage, Steam

News : Indie Fund!!!

2010-03-03T21:08:44+09:00

Indie Fund is made by 7 people from 6 indie team. Additioal details will be reveiled at GDC 2010 Indies and Publishers: Fixing a System That Never Worked Summit, by Ron Carmel of 2dboy. Until then, we could read Interview at Gamesetwatch.

Not sure how it will go, however this will change some (or little) of Indie Game scene, even entire Video Game scene.

P.S. : I assume that summit will be full of people, even including some Publishers & Venture Capitalists. Just my guess, anyway.

Review : [Restraining Order] (2009)

2010-03-03T21:08:45+09:00

Developer : Bigpants
Release year : 2009
Price : Freeware

What is this. Z-grade game, with AAA-grade Effects & Sounds?

You can't imagine enough, just watching this trailer.

It doesn't matter that you're the monster & chasing a girl, while some police attack you. This game is some Z-grade cheesy stuff, but has AAA grade Visual & Sound Effects / Music. I can't believe my eyes while I play this one to the ending, such surprising effects are gathered into that dark joke. Effects & Musics are really really reallllllly well done, especially for musics. So try it if you dare!

Where to download : Official Homepage

News : Activision will do 500,000$ award Indie Game competition!

2010-02-20T11:55:25+09:00

via Indiegames.com/blog

Up to now, we can see only 1 short PDF & Gamasutra interview w/ CEO. We could know only these things.

- 1st. winner get 100,000$, and total prize is 500,000$.
- For New platforms. : Not for PC?
- '2P Summary' & '5 minutes video'. : Playable game not needed?
- NDA will be reveiled : This is NOT common competition?

Nothing more is reveiled yet, however the most important thing will be 'Activision gains right of Winner' or not. NDA could mean, just joining this competition could be signing contract. Even if Activision didn't acquire IP itself, there could be some option 'Winner must be distributed only through Activision'. Of course, that could be good news, unless "Contest Winning Prize = Deposit = Full payment for whole game". And if this is NOT for PC at all, many PC developers might have disadvantage.

Review : [Stark Tower Defense] (2010)

2010-02-15T17:27:40+09:00

Service : Marvel Kids
Release year : 2010
Price : Freeware (Flash Game)

For Advertisement + Children, but still good.

This is early stage, so don't have much towers - enemies. Later, it's flooded.

This is kinda advergame of [Superhero Squad Show], Animation made by Marvel for children. We know many Advergames are boring, also marked for children. To our happy, this is good/ fun / well-made Defense game.

Many defense games are dedicated to 'Few towers - Many upgrades'. This game is different. 'Many towers - Few upgrades'. Of course, you must upgrade those towers fully. However this game has only 3 level for each tower, so 2 upgrades are needed. There's only 1 stage in this game, but really many enemies are spawned around 30 waves. Both of Towers & Enemies, they are all flooded in that area. The road is somewhat confusing if you start for the first time, so need to learn by trial & error.

Needs more time than expected & no save at all, but still worth to play. Too fun, so I cleared it twice. :)

Where to play : Official Homepage