We discuss video games news, and indie games created in Canada.
Dev's Games on Steam, itch.io, Tumblr & Patreon | Slaughterneko on Twitch & YouTubeArticle referenced: Solo-Devs and Risk-Takers (An Artistic Exploration of Experimental Tools by Nathalie LawheadIndie dev, level designer, patron and apologist-to-God Devon Wiersma joins us to discuss their latest release Centauri Dark- as well as life since going full-time indie after the Beans Team games industry'd them. We commiserate on the search for games with better verbs and share thoughts on how we can get this industry and these games to stop being so goshdarn bad lol no for real we're not too cynical it's a really fun chat.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro Music by @catbaux (Toronto, ON)01:49 Reign of the Septims by Jeremy Soule (USA)06:23 Quentin Tarantino on Charlie Rose 04/22/200408:10 Devolver Direct 202020:40, 30:47, 37:42 - Idea by Jenerikku (Chicago) from Bombing!! 2: A Graffiti Paradise38:59 Bill Hader talking to The Script Lab46:43 Imagine by John Lennon (Central Park, various locations)HOSTED & PRODUCED BY: Stephan “RIPS - rest in peace steve” ReillySupport us on Patreon | Join the Discord | Follow on "Twitter" @CanadaGameDevs | Follow on TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Follow on Instagram @canadiangamedevs
Read the Full Episode 240 Show Notes on CanadianGameDevs.comCheckout the Quiver Games Incubator!See the student game Meowmentum David mentionedCANADIAN GAME DEV JOBS | CANADIAN GAME DEV EVENTSThis week we're joined by David Boguslavsky (@BOmaniaFTW) Brand & Community Manager at Quiver Games, a "one stop solution to connect with other developers, build up a portfolio, and join people together into dream game dev teams to make amazing games." He tells us about their upcoming Games Incubator (Deadline June 14!) and then joins us for the regular pod to discuss local Vancouver studio Relic Entertainment's turbulent last few years, IGN Entertainment buying everything and the rest of our usual show.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:13 Intro, Events, Jobs!12:06 'Last Words' by Supergiant Games (San Jose) from Hades OST12:54 News!26:34 'The Keeper' by Paul Ruskay (Vancouver, BC) from Homeworld II Remastered27:02 Wishlist This36:34 Robots at Midnight The MIX trailer by @FinishLineGames (Toronto, ON)37:10 Discord Discussion42:47 Kickstarter Korner48:02 What We've Been Playing (Hades, Laika: Aged by Blood, Stardew IRL)53:21 Wrap Up55:04 Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)CREDITS:HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (London, ON) & (usually) @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Games Are Horrible Little Devices" ReillyJoin the Discord | Follow on "Twitter" @CanadaGameDevs | Follow on TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Follow on Instagram @canadiangamedevs
Read the Full Episode 239 Show Notes on CanadianGameDevs.comCheckout Eric on LinkedIn lolol (homer voice "Neeeeeerd") No for real Eric's Discord kept dropping but we power through the pain like Rocky punching the meats.CANADIAN GAME DEV JOBS | CANADIAN GAME DEV EVENTSTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON), 00:13 Intro, Events, Jobs!, 16:11 'Coral Crown' from Hades II OST by Supergiant Games (San Jose), 16:43 News!, 33:36 'Bruising The Fat (Shar Ikal)' by @chefdabu (Montréal, QC) & @simonswerwer (Barcelona), 34:09 Wishlist This, 41:21 Discord Discussion, 1:02:35 'Balatro Main Theme - Funk Fusion Cover' by Dom Palombi (Bridgewater, NJ), 1:03:14 What We've Been Playing (Hades II, should be Gigantic instead of Overwatch 2 lol), 1:13:37 Wrap Up, 1:19:50 'todd and his sweet little lies' by Crowbcat (YouTube), 1:20:27 Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)CREDITS:HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (London, ON) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Give us the Gifs!!" ReillyFIND US:Join the Discord | Follow on "Twitter" @CanadaGameDevs | Follow on TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Follow on Instagram @canadiangamedevs
Read the Full Episode 238 Show Notes on CanadianGameDevs.comsdsadasCheckout Twinolli & Highlighters:Highlighters on Steam | Twinolli on Twitter | Highlighters Composer Tori Roberts on TwitterLINKS:JOBS | EVENTS | Joydrop Unionization Labour Board Case InfoTIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:13 - Intro09:27 - Theme from Russian Subway Dogs by @CoinsElectro (Toronto, ON)09:50 - News!34:15 - theme from A Knight in the Attic by Neil Quillen34:40 - Dad Deck Update36:16 - Wishlist This44:40 - 'Soba' from Highlighters by @torrybobs44:53 - Twinolli Interview56:07 - 'Hasen' from Highlighters by @torrybobs56:34 - Twinolli Interview Cont'd1:11:51 - 'Done Tutorial' from Highlighters by @torrybobs1:12:14 - What We've Been Playing1:36:22 - Wrap Up1:38:10 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)CREDITS:HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (London, ON) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Rephan Steilly" ReillyPOD MAIN FEED ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)FIND US:Join the Discord | Follow on "Twitter" @CanadaGameDevs | Follow on TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Follow on Instagram @canadiangamedevs
Award-winning Québécois game developer Kevin aka @dragon_slumber (creator of Tech Support, Arelite Core, Astral Traveler and most recently Aethernaut) joins special guest host Flynn Ringrose for an electrifying discussion of Kevin's recent plays, watches and step away from full time game dev to other work.Checkout Dragon Slumber's Steam catalogueFollow Flynn on LinkedIn (lol)You can also follow Kevin on LinkedIn?! (lolol)
See the Winners of our 2023 Community Awards Poll Here!We reveal the winners and runner-ups for our '23 Community Awards, go over some exciting Toronto indie game dev news and cap off with a long conversation about good (?!) microtransactions and lax technical standards in recent AAA games- and why Spider-Man 2 didn't give us the immediate fatigue Ragnarok did.CANADIAN GAME DEV JOBS | CANADIAN GAME DEV EVENTSCANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Toronto, ON: friend-of-the-site indie dev Devon Taking Beta Sing-ups for Upcoming FPS (closes Feb 16!)Toronto, ON: DrinkBox Gives First Teaser of Future Project (very bottom of post, concept art)WISHLIST THIS:Captain Soda by @Poe_Flower in BC. Releasing 2024, demo available, Wishlist on Steam on Steam;Spring in Summer by @LORENINEstudios in Canada. Releasing TBD, demo available, Wishlist on Steam;DEEP DOWN by Devil Studios in Montréal, QC. Releasing TBD, Wishlist on Steam.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Producer's Note (sorry its late)00:45 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:15 - '23 Community Awards Poll Winners Revealed/Discussed (apologies for Stephan's bad audio through most of it)10:07 - 'The Shroud of the Deep' from the Darkest Dungeon II OST by @chatwood (Vancouver, BC)18:41 - 'Another Year' from Dwarf Fortress OST by @simonswerwer (Barcelona)19:20 - Wishlist This (these? lol)31:10 - Spring in Summer Trailer song by @LORENINE (Canada)31:46 - Sports Talk37:08 - Stephan finished Spider-Man 2 44:18 - you get next gen Hotline Miami free?!47:33 - more like Pokemon Scar-bleh49:14 - Bridge Theme from Final Fantasy49:40 - Steve Enjoys Final Fantasy54:38 - "Get Helldivers" begs Steve01:01:01 - Wrap & Credits01:02:11 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)CREDITS:HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (London, ON) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Solidarity is Forever" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)Join the Discord | Follow on "Twitter" @CanadaGameDevs | Follow on TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Follow on Instagram @canadiangamedevs
Vote in our Community Awards PollThis week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!FULL SHOW NOTES HERE (more job resources here)!CANADIAN GAME DEV JOBS | CANADIAN GAME DEV EVENTSHOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (London, ON) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "f*#king Unionize" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)SOCIALS:Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord! | Formerly Twitter @CanadaGameDevs | TikTok @canadiangamedevs | Instagram @canadiangamedevs!CREDITS:00:00 - Producer's Note (sorry its late), 00:26 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON), 00:38 - Events, GOTY Nominees, 18:29 - 'Morning Dove' by Sam Webster & Nick Bausbaum from Rift of the Necrodancer OST (Vancouver, BC), 18:48 - News! such sad, sad news…, 39:36 - Celeste: Fragments of the Mountain OST (Vancouver, BC), 40:06 - Wishlist This, 51:41 - What We've Been Playing, 56:15 - 'Stardust Speedway Zone Act 1' from Sonic Mania OST, 56:40 - What We've Been Playing Cont'd, 01:11:31 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)
Steve adds an obscene amount of demos to his Steam Deck (Dad Deck), we talk about everything Canadian coming up in gaming in 2024 to distract from Stephan's recent termination at the hands of a true coward. Steve's also going to have a baby, so if you want to help us with the site sometime this year reach out lol onward!->
-> Nominate your favourite Canadian games in our '23 Community Awards polls right here
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE!Follow our guest and patron Jake VanderHeide (@VanderheideJake)
Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord | Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevs | Follow us on our hot new TikTok @canadiangamedevs | We also share to InstagramOVERVIEW:In Stephan's last ever episode recorded from Halifax (probably) we go over Mighty DOOM's chart topping launch, big indie launches from Newfoundland to Victoria Island and more Canadian gaming news and wishlists. Steve gives his thoughts (so far) on Canadian indies Hill Agency:PURITYdecay, Fire Station and Super Animal Royale then Stephan breaks down his current GOTY DREDGE.SEE UPCOMING CANADIAN GAMING EVENTS!CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Halifax, NS: Mighty DOOM Most Downloaded Game on iOS and Play Store in the US (and the 6th worldwide)Halifax, NS: A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers DLC Announced for SwitchKitchener, ON: Mayhem in Single Valley Launches on ConsolesNewfoundland: Ayre Flies Onto PlayStation and XboxVancouver, BC: Rift of the Necrodancer Announced for SwitchVictoria, BC: Sky Haven: AR Merge Adventure Launches on Google Play in CanadaWISHLIST THIS:Chaotic Era (@chaotic_era) by BOBBY TECHNOLOGY INC. (which is Gabriel O'Flaherty-Chan & Kevin Donnelly) from Toronto, ON. (Last wishlisted Jan 25/2019 for Summer 2020 iOS Beta). Now you can buy it in Early Access on itch.io. “Chaotic Era is an atmospheric strategy game inspired by classic science fiction, following a stranded human crew on an alien planet.”Omega Strikers (@PlayOmega) by Odyssey Interactive (@OdysseyStudio) in Waterloo, ON. Releasing April 27th, 2023 for Steam, phones, and consoles. “Smash opponents off the arena and score goals in this lightning-fast 3v3 free-to-play game. Squad up with friends to sling slimes, toss tofu, and rocket boost to victory.”Rogue Station by Quint Studio (@QuintStudioGame) in Canada. In Early Access until 2024, Get it on Steam. “This "space station builder simulation roguelite" puts you in charge of a space station. Fight off enemy ships, fleets and rival stations to dominate your corner of space. Build and upgrade your station, hire and manage your crew. Survive as long as you can.”MUSIC USED:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:07:31 - Mighty DOOM theme by @JoshLRichardson (Halifax, NS)00:24:53 - Mayhem in Single Valley by @FluxscopicLtd (Kitchener, ON)00:37:30 - Rogue Station steam trailer by @QuintStudioGame (Canada)00:49:01- Tetris Theme (Korobeiniki) composed by @andrew_skeet (London, UK) & performed by @philharmonia (London, UK)01:08:52 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "about to drive 2000km at once" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)
FULL EPISODE NOTES HERE!- Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord- Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevs- Follow us on our hot new TikTok @canadiangamedevs- We also share to InstagramSEE UPCOMING CANADIAN GAMING EVENTS!SEE CANADIAN GAMING NEWS!MUSIC USED:- 00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)- 02:24 - 'Echo Generation (Main Theme)' by @itsPusher (Toronto, ON)- 35:10 - 'Backpack' by @hollett_samuel (Toronto, ON)- 45:52 - announcement trailer for Anvil Empires scored and sound designed by @romdiprisco (Toronto, ON)- 1:05:00 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Guitar Picker" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)
Checkout our 1st interview w. Meagan in 2015 | And our 2nd interview in 2020OVERVIEW:Returning guest Meagan Byrne, founder of Achimostawinan Games (@AchimoGames), as well as Art Lead @Sadekaronhes join Stephan to discuss the recent release of their Indigenous noir detective adventure game Hill Agency: PURITYdecay for PC and hear their stories from the game's development.You can buy Hill Agency: PURITYdecay for Steam and itch.io (but buy it on itch.io so they get more money).MUSIC USED:All from the Hill Agency: PURITYdecay Original Soundtrack:00:00 - 'Akâmaskiy Blues' by Colin R. Lloyd (feat. David Guy)21:30 - 'Galaxyland' by Colin R. Lloyd37:09 - 'Better Than You Samba' by Colin R. Lloyd58:10 - 'Song of my People' by Honor.beatz (feat. Dan Nanamkin)HOSTED & PRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS)❤️ made possible thanks to our lovely Patrons ❤️
Follow our guest @haleyfax!Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord | Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevs | Follow us on our hot new TikTok @canadiangamedevs | We also share to instagramOVERVIEW:We're thrilled to be joined by Haligonian gamer lawyer extraordinaire Haley MacLean (@haleyfax, get it) to discuss her GDC experience and impressions, specifically the Goodbye Volcano High demo (and Stephan geeks out over Night in the Woods). We also discuss a duo of Halifax mobile indies launched this past week, several Canadian indies getting physical copies (one as a preorder) and a 2nd Hinterland project?!SEE UPCOMING CANADIAN GAMING EVENTS!Vancouver, BC: Town One- An Incubator Game Jam (Fri, Jun 9, 4:00 PM Sun, Jun 11, 9:00 PM) "Preparing you to game industry work with networking, mentorship and practical development."CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Halifax, NS: Mighty DOOM Launches on Google and Apple DevicesHalifax, NS: Red Meat Games Launches Project Dark on iOS and Android, Steam and Switch Coming SoonMontréal, QC: LUNARK Physical Editions up for Pre-order, Coming to PS4/5, Xbox, PC/Mac Later This YearMontréal, QC: Lucid Dreams Launching Kickstarter for Dark Metroidvania BIOMORPHMontréal, QC: Bloodroots from Paper Cult Getting Physical Editions for Playstation 4 and 5, Pre-orders End April 2Vancouver, BC: Hinterland Hiring for Unannounced IP Codenamed Bat FalconWISHLIST THIS:The Depths - 2D Dungeon Crawler for the Playdate by @agmcleod (Toronto, ON) (Follow progress in our Discord)Hope by a trio of devs (1 confirmed in Canada) @satanas82/@amante_records/@AzraelCcs and on itch.io - with an Alpha! “Hope is a sci-fi point-and-click adventure with an emphasis on mini-games that takes place in a future where humanity is testing tools for interstellar travel but also destroying Earth's ecosystem, pushing the human race to the verge of extinction. “Broken Spectre by Games by Stitch (@gamesbystitch) in Toronto, ON, wishlist on Oculus Store. Releasing June 12, 2023. “a cosmic horror narrative adventure game developed in collaboration with the makers of The Blair Witch Project. A cryptic message left by her father takes Casey back to the abandoned trails of Coldblood Mountain, a remote wilderness that has haunted her family for generations. A terrifying power stalks the mountain, watching Casey's every move. Can Casey find her father using the clues he left behind? Or will something else find her first?”MUSIC USED:00:30 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)5:23 - 'The Catacombs' LUNARK OST by @johanvinet (Montréal, QC)31:20 - The Long Dark Main Theme by Minerva Sheryl (Singapore)45:34 - 'Don't Call' by @chefdabu (Ft. Brigitte Naggar of @common_holly)1:09:16 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "can't get out of the village" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)
FULL SHOW NOTES HERE!Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord | Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevs | Follow us on our hot new TikTok @canadiangamedevs | We also share to Instagram again!OVERVIEW:The boys are back after a brief hiatus: a little older, a little wiser, a little more worn down- but that doesn't stop us from bringing you the latest Canadian gaming news, events, upcoming releases and game impressions.We talk new 2023 release dates for big upcoming Canadian games, Chivalry II's 2023 roadmap FINALLY bringing cross-platform parties to the beloved Monty Pythonsian medieval slapsticker. Phoenix Labs regains their independence, being reborn as a privately held corporation like a phoenix from the ashes of their parent company and more- including Stephan's extreme disappointment in Atomic Hearts, and Steve's folding immediately for the PSVR 2. Enjoy!SEE UPCOMING CANADIAN GAMING EVENTS!Toronto, ON: Toronto Game Expo 2022 (Saturday, March 25, 2023) "A Toronto physical game market with vendors selling retro to current gen videogames."CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Montréal, QC: Goodbye Volcano High Gets New June Release Date, Story TrailerQuébec, QC: Baldur's Gate 3 Leaves Early Access, Launches on PS5 End of AugustToronto, ON: Get In The Car, Loser! Receives 2nd DLC Chapter The Fate of Another WorldToronto, ON: Chivalry II Receiving Cross-Platform Parties, More Updates in 2023 RoadmapVancouver, BC: Darkest Dungeon 2 Exits Early Access, Launches on Steam in MayVancouver, BC: Phoenix Labs Buys out Parent Company to Become IndependentVancouver, BC: New Original Sci-fi IP Code-Named “Project Hummingbird” Coming from HinterlandCanada: Trio of Canadian Indies Featured in February Nintendo DirectWISHLIST THIS:INFINITE GUITARS by Nikko Nikko (@nikkonikkoLTD) in Vancouver, BC, and published by Humble Bundle. Launching March 30, 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Fight mechs with metal-crushing rock in Infinite Guitars, a genre-melting Rhythm RPG featuring vibrant anime-inspired art and a blazing original soundtrack. Battle against war machines with electrifying Guitar Solos, and save the planet!”Edge Of Dead: Under A Uranium Sky by Inferno Muse Interactive (@InfernoMuse) in Ottawa, ON. Releasing TBD, Wishlist on Steam and try the Demo! “In this action roguelike game you'll fight your way from a remote mining colony to the inner worlds of an alien infested star system. Choose a crew member, grab a weapon, and prepare for chaos!”Dark Age Dinos by Woolly Walrus Games (@WoollyWalrusInc) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, releasing in Early Access TBD. “Dark Age Dinos is a tactical roguelite. Travel alone or with friends through a medieval world of sword wielding dinosaurs. Strategize your way through short adventures where teamwork is the key to success!”MUSIC USED:01:32 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)09:52 - 'Five Spot Stump' from Floor Kids OST by @kidkoala (Montréal, QC)38:58 - 'Spirit of the Times' from Get in the car, Loser! by @OhPoorPup (Seattle, WA) & vocals by Jami Lynne (Tucson, AZ)53:35 - Dark Age Dinos trailer song by Woolly Walrus Games (Toronto, ON)1:16:00 - 'State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics' by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov (Russia)1:26:36 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Bachelor Boy" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234! (Ko-fi - Alberta)
Get into Hololabs' Mobile AR Game SkyHaven's Beta! | Get Floor Kids on everything | Checkout JonJon's Twitch channel!OVERVIEW:Over 5 years ago, Victoria, BC-based Hololabs (@hololabs) launched their indie rhythm dance game Floor Kids (@FloorKidsCrew) on Steam and Nintendo Switch. A collaboration between Hololabs and longtime creative partners Kid Koala (@kidkoala) and JonJon (@JonJonAnimation), Floor Kids represents the pure expressionism of a form like breakdancing translated to a videogame by a primary source in bboy JonJon animating as well as self-referencing the poses for the dance moves. Kid Koala did all the beats and sounds and Hololabs codemonkeyed all of it together.We talk about how JonJon and Kid Koala came to become strong collaborators, how they ended up working with Hololabs, how they locked down Switch console exclusivity for launch and more of the game's development story. Lead programmer Amesh (@ameshnarsing) breaks down how he got recruited to do things like ensure the transition animation frames between dance moves work, and he tells us how the team stumbled onto the Virtua Fighter-esque strobe effect for the dancing specials and more! And Rob hangs out (@robtomroe - he works there, just not on Floor Kids).MUSIC USED:Used Kid Koala's 'Floor Kids MegaMix' at: 22:24, 45:59, 1:05:59, 1:18:25, 1:39:21Also used:00:00 - 'Was He Slow?' from Baby Driver OST by @kidkoala01:13 - 'Five Spot Stump' from Floor Kids OST by @kidkoala25:44 - Floor Kids: B-Boy O-Live vs. B-Boy Nugs by @kidkoala and @JonJonAnimation27:03 - 'Fender Bender' by @kidkoala57:18 - 'Hoe Cakes' by @MFDOOM58:59 - 'Favorite Song' by @chancetherapper feat. @donaldglover1:14:20 - 'The Ones' by @kidkoalaHOSTED & PRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS)❤️ made possible thanks to our lovely Patrons ❤️
Get and Follow TUNIC | Checkout PowerUp Audio | Play some Sparse gamesLIGHT SPOILERS FOR TUNIC IN THE INTERVIEW!OVERVIEW:Primary Developer and Designer Andrew Shouldice (@dicey/Halifax, NS), Audio Director Kevin Regamey (@regameyk/Vancouver, BC) and Level Artist Eric Billingsley (@SparseGameDev/Ottawa, ON) join Stephan to discuss the award-winning isometric adventure game TUNIC on its 1-year anniversary.We hear advice on avoiding some of the nostalgia-focused design traps that can lead devs astray, how to capture a classic game's feeling rather than just a classic art style or old-school mechanic- and more interesting details from TUNIC's development and reception since launch, especially from the speedrunning community.Our community selected TUNIC as the Best Canadian Game of 2022 in our community awards poll earlier this year, and it's nominated for a slew of awards in the upcoming GDC, IGF and BAFTA shows in the coming months.MUSIC USED:all from TUNIC's OST composed by @lifeformed × @alsojanice (Taipei):- 00:00/1:09:34 - 'Memories of Memories'- 11:12 - 'Ancient Futures'- 26:18 - 'Ocean Glaze'- 39:00 - 'Sunset Breakfast'- 51:20 - 'Forget to Forget'HOSTED & PRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS)❤️ made possible thanks to our lovely Patrons ❤️
PLUGS:Join the CanadianGameDevs' DiscordFollow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsFollow us on our hot new tik tok @canadiangamedevs Aaaaand we're posting news on instagram now! OVERVIEW:Oodles of news from Canada's 2nd and 8th biggest cities (Montréal/Vancouver) and fresh impressions of Red Nexus Games' delightful Peggle roguelike hybrid Peglin- as well as our first Wishlist This segment of 2023 featuring a Toronto sandwich of games (sandwiching a game about not dying in the cold from a studio in Winnipeg lol).EVENTS:Online: DemoNights and the Games from Quebec Steam SaleDemoNights (Thu, Feb 2 - Sat, Feb 4)Games from Quebec Steam Sale (Thu, Feb 2 - Mon, Feb 6)Toronto, ON: XP Game Developer Summit 2023 (Thu, Apr 20 - Fri, Apr 21)CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Montréal, QC: Solo Game Dev Studio BrightWorm Founded by Industry Veteran Bronson ZgebMontréal, QC: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Coming to Mobile Exclusively Through NetflixMontréal, QC: EA Motive Drops Launch Trailer for Their Dead Space Remake NOT NEWSMontréal, QC: Eidos-Montréal's Avengers Game Ends Support Later This YearToronto, ON: Nobody Saves the World Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary with Free Impossible Dungeon Update and SaleVancouver, BC: Industries of Titan Leaving Early Access This MonthVancouver, BC: Tails: The Backbone Preludes Launching Next MonthVancouver, BC: Minecraft Legends Launching in AprilVancouver, BC: Red Hook Partners With Make-A-Wish Foundation for Fan-Designed Monster and ItemsWISHLIST THIS:A Knight in the Attic by Mighty Yell (@MightyYell) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, Releasing 2023. “Pull open the latch to a dusty old attic and find curiosity and adventure waiting for you on a table in the corner. What starts as playfully guiding Guinevere through a labyrinth board quickly turns into a sprawling, puzzle-solving, VR adventure.”FRIGID by Celeritas Games (@CeleritasGames) in Winnipeg, MB. Wishlist on Steam, “Coming soon” and getting a Kickstarter. “Hunt, build, craft and survive an apocalyptic arctic environment and unravel the mystery of a strange virus that is infecting the local wildlife. Inspired by The Thing!”Nebular Crush by Sunamico in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, In Early Access for “half a year” after July 2022. “Nebular Crush is 2D retro shooter that delivers non-stop arcade action. Armed with a magical surfboard and guitar, you must shred your way to victory through over 50 action-packed levels.”MUSIC USED:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)05:47 - 'Facility' from GoldenEye 007 by @grantkirkhope (Scotland)30:05 - Darkest Dungeon II theme song by @chatwood (Vancouver, BC)42:22 - Nebular Crush trailer audio by Sunamico (Toronto, ON)59:28 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)HOSTED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "just wants trains" ReillyPODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi! (Alberta)
OVERVIEW:Stephan sits down with the Victoria, BC-based indie studio Hololabs (@hololabs) to talk about their currently-in-beta augmented reality (AR) project Sky Haven (@skyhavenapp) coming to mobile sometime soon.Sign up for the Sky Haven beta at the bottom of their website.We discuss the challenges of AR development, making a geography-based game interesting in Canada's massive surface area, keeping the experience consistent across countless mobile devices and more.Stay tuned next week for a 2nd interview with Hololabs and their collaborators JonJon and Kid Koala about their 2017 cult classic rhythm game Floor Kids which we recorded at the end of November but wanted to make sure we got right- enjoy!MUSIC USED:00:37 - 'Island Zone' from Ecco the Dolphin by Spencer Nilsen (California)02:34 - James Bond Theme by John Barry (UK)18:55 - 'Babu Yetu' from Civilization IV by Christopher Tin (California)24:17 - 'First Love' from Up On Poppy Hill by @takebesatoshi (Tokyo) feat. Aoi Teshima (Fukuoka)PODCAST ART: From the @skyhavenapp Twitter HOSTED & PRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS)
See our 2022 Community Awards Poll winners!(btw that title means CanadianGameDevs' Game of the Year 2022 if you're not a gamer or if you're my mom
Vote in our 2022 Community Awards Poll!FULL EP 224 SHOW NOTESPLUGS:Join the CanadianGameDevs' DiscordFollow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:We go over all the nominees for our 2022 Community Awards Poll, with a few surprises and few familiar games- and also give our own votes. We talk 2023 news already with Sea of Stars new release window and video with one of the composers as well as the first DLC for 12AM Games' Dawn of Monsters coming soon. We then close out with some first impressions of Foolish Mortals' Kaiju Wars and a few other games we've been playing over the holidays.JOBS:Crimson Herring Studios - Lead 3D Environment Artist Game Developer Job (Remote)CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Montréal, QC: Sea of Stars launches Summer 2023Toronto, ON: Dawn of Monsters gets new Monster DLC 2023MUSIC USED:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)22:25 - 'Fierce Opposition' from Sea of Stars by @rnbwdragoneyes (Denver, CO)39:16 - Kaiju Wars theme by @NeighborKentoro (Canada)1:08:25 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi! (Alberta)HOSTED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Back in Fordnation" Reilly
PLUGS:- FULL SHOW NOTES HERE- Nominate games in our Canadian Game Devs 2022 Community Award Polls - Join the CanadianGameDevs' Discord- Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:We cover all the Canadian announcements and WORLD PREMIERES from The Game Awards 2K22 edition- and boy did Keighley deliver. We then wishlist some contentious DLC for The Long Dark, dish on what we think of Drinkbox's Nobody Saves the World upon completion and Steve's disappointing time with Callisto Protocol- and why he's playing Elden Ring instead (probably why it won GOTY... and the Clinton connection).EVENTS:- GAME JAM for the kids at Inn From the Cold (The Inn) in Calgary (Kick-Off Jan 3rd 4-5pm - Wrap-Up Jan 6th 4-5pm) "The purpose of the Inn From the Cold Game Jam is to give vulnerable youth exposure to the world of game development, by creating games based on the collaborative ideas of you, the game developer, and the kids."- Ubisoft Toronto NEXT submissions open (Deadlines range from Nov '22 - Mar '23) “An annual competition designed to showcase the talent of video game development students in Ontario and to help kickstart their careers in the industry.”CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:- London, ON: 'Warframe' Now Supports Crossplay Across Consoles and PC- Edmonton, AB: Nightingale Shows Off New Features in Game Awards 2022 Trailer- Toronto & Montréal: Behaviour Interactive Announces Release Date for Base-Building-and-Raiding Game Meet Your Maker- Québec City: Baldur's Gate 3 Leaving Early Access Next Summer- Montréal, QC: Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden Announced at The Game Awards- Vancouver, BC: Celeste Devs Show New Trailer for Next Game Earthblade- Montréal, QC: Eidos-Montréal Still Updating 2020's Marvel's Avengers, Adding The Winter Soldier- Montréal, QC: 'Goodbye Volcano High' Delayed to Summer 2023- Québec: 'JETT: The Far Shore' Receiving Free Expansion 'Given Time' in 2023- Canada: TUNIC, Life of a Teenage Exocolonist Among Few Canadian Nominees for 2022 Game AwardsWISHLIST THIS:1 - The Long Dark: Tales from the Far Territory DLC for The Long Dark (@IntoTheLongDark) by Hinterland Studio Inc. (@HinterlandGames) in Victoria, BC. Wishlist on Steam, Coming soon. “The first paid expansion pass for The Long Dark's Survival Mode. Releasing in multiple drops over the course of a 12-month campaign, TFTFT significantly adds to the world of Great Bear Island and the game's core Survival foundation, with new Regions, new Gameplay, and new objective-based Tales.”2 - Bombing!! 2: A Graffiti Paradise by Devon Wiersma (@Devon_Wiersma) in Toronto, ON. Wishlist on Steam, Coming Soon. “Welcome To Graffiti Paradise! Explore for hidden secrets, meet interesting friends, unlock painting tools, and fill your world with colour!”3 - Spiral by Folklore Games (@Folklore_games) in Montréal, QC. Wishlist on Steam, Coming Soon. “Spiral is a third-person narratively driven exploration game sharing a poetic vision of cognitive degeneration seen from the inside. It tells the story of Bernard, a man who wishes goodbye one last time to the memories that built him from his early childhood to who he is today.”MUSIC USED:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)06:41 - Earthblade - Music Teaser by @kuraine (Vancouver, BC)31:20 - Spiral trailer audio by @Folklore_games (Montréal, QC)1:08:25 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi! (Alberta)HOSTED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Audio-medic!" Reilly
PLUGS:FOLLOW OUR TWITCH FOR EXTRA LIFE THIS UPCOMING WEEKENDJoin the CanadianGameDevs' DiscordFollow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:We wishlist a trio of horror titles and discuss the closure of Square Enix Montreal, the new Square Enix IP allegedly being developed in London, ON, and more gaming news. We get first-time-liking-a-card-gamer Steve's glowing impressions of Marvel Snap, Stephan's disbelief in Overwatch 1.2's sorry state and more cynicism of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's development.JOBS:Kelowna, BC: Sad Panda Studios - Game Developer - Unity/C# ProgrammerToronto, ON: Gartan Games Ltd. - Game Developer (C# & 3D)EVENTS:Canadian Game Devs' Extra Life 2K22 Edition - Sat. Nov. 5 @ 10am - Sun. Nov. 6 @ 10am (Follow our Twitch - Donate Here)Indie Cup Canada '22 - Award nominees revealed Nov 3, Winners Nov 17 “Indie Cup is hosting a digital festival of indie games with developer awards and an online exhibition of upcoming indies from Canadian devs!”Ubisoft Toronto NEXT submissions open (Deadlines range from Nov '22 - Mar '23) “An annual competition designed to showcase the talent of video game development students in Ontario and to help kickstart their careers in the industry.”CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Edmonton, AB: Dragon Age: Dreadwolf Enters AlphaLondon, ON: Tactic Studios Hiring to work on “a new Square Enix IP”St. Catharines, ON: Phantom Compass Teases Next Game, an Untitled Lovecraftian RogueliteToronto, ON: Always Sometimes Monsters Releasing Physical Version for Nintendo SwitchToronto, ON: Embracer Group Shutting Down Onoma, the Studio it Acquired Just Months AgoWISHLIST THIS:The Chant (@Thechantgame) by Brass Token (@brasstokengames) in Vancouver, BC. Releasing November 3, 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “A single-player, third person horror action-adventure game set on a remote spiritual island retreat. To survive you must craft, fight, and escape the psychedelic horrors set loose when a spiritual ritual goes wrong and awakens a dimension of cosmic terror.”Dead Space (@deadspace) by EA Motive (@MotiveStudio) in Montreal, QC. Releasing January 27, 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “The sci-fi, survival-horror classic returns, completely rebuilt to offer an even more immersive experience — including visual, audio, and gameplay improvements — while staying faithful to the original game's thrilling vision.”Schwarzwald by Ex Anima Games Inc. (@ExAnimaGames) in Montreal, QC. Releasing March 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Hunted like prey, solve tricky situations and collect items to get yourself to safety. But watch out, the demon isn't so easily beat and your instincts WILL betray you.”KICKSTARTER KORNER:Toronto, ON: Mahou Senshi Cosplay Club (Ending Thu. Nov. 3, 2022)Montréal, QC: Sally | A cozy life-sim game about community and belonging (Ending Thu. Nov 17, 2022)MUSIC USED:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)06:41 - Hitman GO theme song by Niels Bye Nielsen (Denmark)23:30 - Doug theme song by Fred Newman (USA)41:17 - Marvel Snap Menu Music by @iamchrisalanlee (Los Angeles, CA)1:04:56 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi! (Alberta)HOSTED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan "Pod God" Reilly
Newfoundland-born and Halifax-based writer, filmmaker and (most recently) game designer Kyle Sharpe's point-and-click, horror game Batty Zabella runs on a GameBoy- but he's also releasing it on itch.io.We talked with Kyle about the constraints of developing a game that has to run on decades-old hardware, the underserved strain of "funny" horror in games a la Addams Family or The Munsters and much more.Follow Kyle on Twitter @IceColdBlood1 and you can pickup Batty Zabella on itch.io on October 31st (for $6.66, no less).
PLUGS:Follow @BluePinStudio1 and checkout their games on SteamJoin the CanadianGameDevs' DiscordFollow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:Stephan is joined by Toronto-based game developer Viktor from Blue Pin Studio, whose upcoming project Explory Story has been covered on this program extensively. We talk about the new spin off studio from fellow Toronto devs Quill Studios, the controversy Canadian voice actress Jennifer Hale stepped into regarding the Bayonetta 3 dispute and we wishlist some upcoming games. Then Stephan and Viktor talk about their studio, lessons learned on Explory Story's development and more pearls of wisdom. Thanks for listening!JOBS:Kelowna, BC: Sad Panda Studios - Game Developer - Unity/C# ProgrammerEVENTS:Indie Cup Canada '22 - online exhibit starting Oct 20, award nominees revealed Nov 3, winners Nov 17“Indie Cup is hosting a digital festival of indie games with developer awards and an online exhibition of upcoming indies from Canadian devs!”Ubisoft Toronto NEXT submissions open (Deadlines range from Nov '22 - Mar '23)“An annual competition designed to showcase the talent of video game development students in Ontario and to help kickstart their careers in the industry.”DemoNights and the Games from Quebec Steam Sale submissions openDemoNights submissions open Feb 2-4: https://demonight.ca/2023Steam Sale submissions open Feb 2-6: https://demonight.ca/steamsaleCANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Toronto, ON: Quill Yuri Announced as a Branch of Quill Studios, Focusing on Yuri GamesNewfoundlander Jennifer Hale Issues Statement Regarding Bayonetta 3 Voice Acting ControversyMontréal, QC: Tuque Games rebrands as Invoke StudiosWISHLIST THIS:Flying Neko Delivery (@FlyingNekoGame) developed by Fractal Phase in Toronto, ON. Releasing October 20, 2022, Wishlist on Steam. "Take on the role of Onigiri, a feline witch who lives in a cottage and delivers packages flying on a broomstick. Customize your cottage, explore new worlds, forage plants and fungi, and meet quirky villagers along the way, while enjoying music by Mark Sparling, the composer for A Short Hike."Astral Flux partly developed by Cosmocat (@cosmocatgames) in Dartmouth, NS. Releasing October 28, 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “Two would-be astronauts and scrappers fumble their way through space, desperately searching for a way home, in this upcoming action roguelite game from Cosmocat and Studio VDS.”Explory Story partly developed and published by Blue Pin Studio (@BluePinStudio1) in Toronto, ON. Releasing Early 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Play as a world famous detective who is stuck inside one of his own works! Be careful and watch your step. The words on the page can come to life.”KICKSTARTER KORNER:Toronto, ON: Mahou Senshi Cosplay Club (Ending Thu. Nov. 3, 2022)MUSIC USED:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)05:45 - 'Seeds of Doubt' from Chicory: A Colorful Tale by Lena Raine (Seattle, WA)15:11 - 'Chevrolet Van' by The Nude Party (North Carolina)26:16 - Explory Story trailer track from @BluePinStudio1 (Toronto, ON)38:32 - 'The Scrybe of Magicks' from Inscryption by Jonah Senzel (US)57:38 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi! (Alberta)HOSTED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan and ONLY Stephan
PLUGS:Join our Discord!Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:We talk about all the new CDPR announcements in light of their Vancouver studio, Dead Space remake details coming out of Motive Montreal, and loads of impressions of upcoming Canadian indies based on demos from the latest Steam Next Fest!EVENTS:Indie Cup Canada '22 - online exhibit starting Oct 20, award nominees revealed Nov 3, winners Nov 17 - “Indie Cup is hosting a digital festival of indie games with developer awards and an online exhibition of upcoming indies from Canadian devs!”Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct 15-16 - Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Vancouver, BC: CD Projekt Red Announces New Cyberpunk Game, Multiple Witcher Games, And New IPMontréal, QC: Check out the first gameplay trailer for the Dead Space remakeNEXT FEST DEMOS PLAYED:AHOD: All Hands on Deck! by Flat Thumb Interactive Inc. (@FlatThumb) in Toronto, ON. Releasing 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Play as the captain of a pirate ship and collect the cards of crew, weapons and loot in this fantastical naval combat deckbuilder.”Astral Flux codeveloped by Cosmocat (@cosmocatgames) in Dartmouth, NS. Releasing October 28, 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “Two would-be astronauts and scrappers fumble their way through space, desperately searching for a way home, in this upcoming action roguelite game from Cosmocat and Studio VDS.”Explory Story by Blue Pin Studio (@BluePinStudio1) in Toronto, ON. Releasing 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Alone, or with a friend, run around on the surface of many different stories. You can interact with the text, and the text can interact with you! There are boss battles, collectibles, a song, puzzles, and much more!”Psychroma by Rocket Adrift (@rocketadrift) in Toronto, ON. Releasing Q3 2023, Wishlist on Steam. "Psychroma is a narrative-driven side-scroller where you play as a digital medium. Confront the past by piecing together the broken memories of a cybernetic house, and exorcise the ghosts in the machine."SPECTRE by Symbiosis Games (@Symbiosis_games) in Toronto, ON. Releasing 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Employ stealth tactics as the Spectres, or defend your objectives as the heavily armed Reapers in this thrilling teamwork-driven multiplayer action experience!”CREDITS:MUSIC:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:13:30 - 'The Necromorphs Attack' from Dead Space by @jgmusic (Raleigh, NC)00:39:15 - 'Please Stand By' from The Simpsons by @TheAlfClausen (Los Angeles, CA)00:55:12 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234 - support them on Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS) & @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON)PRODUCED BY: Stephan Reilly
PLUGS:Follow our guests @Symbiosis_gamesJoin our Discord!Follow us on Twitter @CanadaGameDevsOVERVIEW:This week we're talking to Symbiosis Games about their spiritual successor to 2005's beloved Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory which is set to release on Steam in 2023: SPECTRE. We talk about what it means to modernize a classic gaming experience, their intriguing Californian patron funding the game's development and review their Steam page in real-time!EVENTS:CANCELLED :( Game Slice 2022 Online - Stream Oct 4-6 - Playtesting Sept 20-Oct 6 - “Back for its seventh year, Joydrop is proud to host Game Slice 2022. We continue to conduct the event online as we await a safe opportunity to return to an in person event.”Indie Cup Canada '22 - online exhibit starting Oct 20, award nominees revealed Nov 3, winners Nov 17 - “Indie Cup is hosting a digital festival of indie games with developer awards and an online exhibition of upcoming indies from Canadian devs!”Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct 15-16 - Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Toronto, ON: Cuphead Getting Physical Edition for 5th AnniversaryToronto, ON: Foxhole Leaves Early Access After 5 YearsWISHLIST THIS:SuperColony by Antic Games Inc. (@AnticGamesDev) in BC. Releasing “TBA
FULL EPISODE NOTESJoin our Discord! - London, ON-based trans streamer Keffal's Twitch ChannelOVERVIEW: Huge development in the forced abroad Canadian streamer Keffals' story battling online abusers and doxxers, a new game from Dauntless' devs coming exclusively to Switch, Stephan and Steve dish on The Last of Us Part 1 and much more Canadian gaming goodness!EVENTS:- Indie Cup Canada '22 - online exhibit starting Oct 20, award nominees revealed Nov 3, winners Nov 17- Game Slice 2022 Online - Stream Oct 4-6 - Playtesting Sept 20-Oct 6 Playtester Sign-up DEADLINE: Sept 16 @ 5:00 PM EST- Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct 15-16JOBS: (Remote) Legends of Learnings - Game DeveloperCANADIAN GAMING NEWS:(Northern Ireland) Keffals' Launched Campaign Deplatforms Abusers (St. John's, NL) Project Winter Permanently Lowers Price as New Update Drops (Montréal, QC) Motive Montréal Developing an Iron Man Game (Waterloo, ON) Omega Strikers Enters Open Beta on Steam (Vancouver, BC) Vancouver Indie Studio Anemone Hug Unionizes, Dauntless Devs Announce New Game 'Fae Farm' Coming Exclusively to SwitchLAUNCHES: In Retrospect by @PaperSalamander (Toronto, ON) comes to Steam, Session: Skate Sim by @actionofcreate (Montréal, QC) leaves early access on Steam and comes to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S|XUPDATES: Frozen Hearth DLC for Nobody Saves the World by @DrinkBoxStudios (Toronto, ON) comes to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series S|X and Steam, 2nd Free Update for Mario Strikers: Battle League by Next Level Studios (Vancouver, BC) comes to SwitchPORTS:Hardspace: Shipbreaker by @InsideBBI (Vancouver, BC) comes to PS5 and Series S/X and GamePass, TUNIC by @dicey (Halifax, NS) comes to PS4, PS5 and Switch on September 27, 2022WISHLIST THIS:Championship Wrestling Promoter by Pykrete Games (@PykreteGames) in Halifax, NS. Releasing TBD 2022, Wishlist on Steam, Joshua's Legs (@JoshuasLegsGame) by Francis Cote-Tremblay (@trespetitlegume) in Montreal, QC. In Early Access until February 2023 (probably), Wishlist on Steam, Tails: The Backbone Preludes (@backbonegame) by eggnut (@eggnutgames) in Vancouver, BC. Releasing 2023, Wishlist on SteamCREDITS:MUSIC:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:05:31 - 'Escape' from Project Winter OST by @itsbobtown (Michigan)00:38:59 - 'Puzz' from Grindstone OST by @hollett_samuel (Toronto, ON)01:10:19 - Tails: The Backbone Preludes trailer song by @eggnutgames (Vancouver, BC)01:32:51 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234/Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON) & Stephan ReillyPRODUCED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS)
Join our Discord!London, ON-based trans streamer Keffal's Twitch Channel and GoFundMe CampaignOVERVIEW:Oodles of Gamescom announcements from Canadian studios and projects- from New Borderlands to a massive Age of Empires anniversary to loads more. We also go over all the fresh Canadian video game releases, wishlist some unreleased Canadian indies and talk about what we've been playing to close out. Enjoy!EVENTS:Game Slice 2022 Online (@GameSliceEvent) Stream: Oct 4-6 Playtesting: Sept 20-Oct 6 “Back for its seventh year, Joydrop is proud to host Game Slice 2022. We continue to conduct the event online as we await a safe opportunity to return to an in person event.”Super FESTival 2022 by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) Oct 15-16 Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.JOBS:Edmonton, AB: Crimson Herring Studio Job - Game Programmer (Unity), 3D Environment ArtistRemote: Legends of Learnings - Game DeveloperCANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Lunenburg, NS: Tiger Woods to be Cover Athlete and Executive Director for PGA TOUR 2K23London, ON: Trans Twitch streamer Keffals forced to flee country in wake of death threats and abuseMontréal, QC: The Outlast Trials Getting Closed Beta Halloween WeekendQuébec, QC: New Tales from the Borderlands Announced, Gearbox Studio Québec Leading DevelopmentToronto, ON: Hand Eye Society Releases Second MixtapeToronto, ON: A Short Hike Getting Physical Collector's Edition from Super Rare GamesToronto, ON: Trio of Benjamin Rivers' Games Getting Physical Nintendo Switch CollectionVancouver, BC: Relic's Age of Empires IV Getting Anniversary Update, Franchise Turns 25 Years OldVancouver, BC: Hardspace: Shipbreaker Coming to Xbox Series S, X and PS5Vancouver, BC: Blackbird Interactive's Homeworld 3 Delayed to 2023LAUNCHES:I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (August 25, 2022) Platforms: Switch, PS4, PS5 and Steam Developer: Northway Games (Vancouver, BC)Evasive Maneuvers (August 31, 2022) Platforms: Steam Developer: Sky Pyre Studios (Ottawa, ON)UPDATES:Water Rats DLC for Radio General (August 23, 2022) Platforms: Steam Developer: Michael Long, Foolish Mortals Games (Saskatoon, SK)PORTS:Inscryption (August 30, 2022) Platforms: PS4, PS5 Developer: Daniel Mullins Games (Vancouver, BC)WISHLIST THIS:Tall Poppy 2 by Attainable Entertainment (@AttainableEnt) in Sudbury, ON. Coming soon - Wishlist on Steam. “In this comedy-horror adventure, explore the city of Boots Bay where you must go through hell to discover the reason why Tall Poppy is tormenting you. It's time to put an end to his terror once and for all!”Caerulean: Beneath and Beyond by Spotless Mind Studios (@That_Haifisch) in Montréal, QC. Coming soon 2022 - Wishlist on Steam. “The year is 2058. Ocean sea levels have risen considerably and several coastal cities have been abandoned. As Laura Deckard, you will explore underwater stations and surrounding areas, help clean underwater ecosystems and interact with the other denizens of the blue world.”This Bed We Made by Lowbirth Games (@LowbirthGames) in Montréal, QC. Releasing 2023 - Wishlist on Steam. “This Bed We Made is a third-person mystery game in which you play as a maid in a 1950s hotel and snoop around strangers' rooms to uncover their deadly secrets. Discover what links the clients together in this tale of love, heartbreak and murder!”CREDITS:MUSIC:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:05:57 - Ancient Futures by @Lifeformed (Taipei) and @Janice Kwan (Taipei)00:47:11 - Homeworld 3 trailer song by @InsideBBI (Vancouver, BC)00:52:46 - Four Scrybes by @JonahSenzel (USA)01:01:47 - The Bed We Made trailer song by @LowbirthGames (Montréal, QC)01:09:10 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234/Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON) & Stephan ReillyPRODUCED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS)
FULL EP 216 SHOW NOTESJoin our Discord!London, ON-based trans streamer Keffal's Twitch ChannelOVERVIEW:Stephan regales Steve of his incredible time at Canada's largest retro arcade bar in London, ON, called Tilt. He finally understands pinball and the appeal of those flapper thingies. We discuss a scary swatting in a transphobic attack on a London, ON-based Twitch streamer. We wishlist some games of our friends and then Steve explains why Multiverse's season one monetization is an issue.EVENTS:Quiver Games Checkpoint - Saturday August 20th @ 7:00 PM PDT! - “Join us for a wonderful night of sped up game industry networking, light food and games in the first ever Quiver Games Checkpoint.”Vancouver Video Game Development Meetup - Thu, Aug 25 @ 7:00 PM PDT - “If you're a game developer, aspiring or professional, then here's a safe space waiting for you! Connect with hundreds of other game devs who share the same burning passion for game development and design.”Game Slice 2022 Online - Stream Oct 4-6 - Playtesting Sept 20-Oct 6 Playtester Sign-up DEADLINE: Sept 16 @ 5:00 PM EST - “Back for its seventh year, Joydrop is proud to host Game Slice 2022. We continue to conduct the event online as we await a safe opportunity to return to an in person event.”Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct 15-16 - Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.JOBS:Toronto, ON: Bloom Digital Media - Art Director Game Dev Job (Remote)Edmonton, AB: Crimson Herring Studio Job - Game Programmer (Unity), 3D Environment ArtistRemote: Legends of Learnings - Game DeveloperUPCOMING LAUNCHES:Vancouver, BC: I Was a Teenage Exocolonist coming to PS4/PS5 August 25, 2022Vancouver, BC: Inscryption coming to PS5 August 30, 2022CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Edmonton, AB: Survival game Nightingale delayed until first half of 2023, upgrading to Unreal Engine 5London, ON: Trans Twitch star fears for life after someone sent swat team to her London homeToronto, ON: Quill Studios announces the upcoming launch of an all-new mystery visual novel 'Autumn with the Shiba Inu' coming to KickstarterWISHLIST THIS:Little Hellions by Schadenfreude (@ProfessorOnion) in Alberta. Releasing Q4 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “4 friends. 1 weirdo mechanic. THROW AWAY YOUR FRIENDS with your trusty Trick Hook in this passive aggressive fighter where you can't fight!”CURSES by Killjoy Games (@killjoygames) with devs in Ontario. Releasing August 24, wishlist on Steam. “CURSES is a game about a girl with troubles and dark feelings. Help her cope with them with the aid of a cynical cat and sprinkle of magic.”Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) (@TwoFalls) by Unreliable Narrators (@UNarratorsGames) in Montréal, QC. Releasing Fall 2023, Wishlist on Steam. “Immerse yourself in the harsh wilderness of 17th century Canada through the eyes of Maikan, a young Innu, and Jeanne, a French woman who crossed the Atlantic to start a new life. Decide how the characters will survive, and watch the impact of your choices unfold in this coming-of-age story!”CREDITS:MUSIC:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:06:33 - 'Clip Joint Calamity' by @KrisMaddigan (Toronto, ON)00:23:16 - 'Deathcard Cabin (Reprise)' by @JonahSenzel (USA)00:39:05 - 'Two Falls trailer song' by @TwoFalls/@UNarratorsGames (Montréal, QC)01:09:10 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234/Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON) & Stephan ReillyPRODUCED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS)
Checkout the 2022 Games from BC Steam page OVERVIEW:Yet another BioWare veteran has quit the beleaguered studio who hasn't shipped a new game since Anthem in 2019 (if you don't count the Mass Effect collection- which we don't). We've got oodles of new details on Digital Extreme's successor to Warframe entitled Soulframe which I think is a great name. We've of course got all the upcoming gaming events, more news, some jobs for you to checkout and more Canadian-developed games to add to your wishlist!EVENTS:Expert Talks - How to Fund Your Game Studio (CMF) - Jul 28 - Aug 4“XP Gaming is proud to present a series of Expert Talks sponsored by the Canada Media Fund, which will have industry leaders from Alberta, the Atlantic, and the Prairies join us to give region-conscious advice on funding your game studio.”Quiver Games Checkpoint - Saturday August 20th @ 7:00 PM PDT!“Join us for a wonderful night of sped up game industry networking, light food and games in the first ever Quiver Games Checkpoint.”Vancouver Video Game Development Meetup - Thu, Aug 25 @ 7:00 PM PDT“If you're a game developer, aspiring or professional, then here's a safe space waiting for you! Connect with hundreds of other game devs who share the same burning passion for game development and design.”Game Slice 2022 Online - Stream Oct 4-6 - Playtesting Sept 20-Oct 6 Playtester Sign-up DEADLINE: Sept 16 @ 5:00 PM EST“Back for its seventh year, Joydrop is proud to host Game Slice 2022. We continue to conduct the event online as we await a safe opportunity to return to an in person event.”Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct. 15 - 16Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.JOBS:Toronto, ON: Bloom Digital Media - Art Director Game Dev Job (Remote)Edmonton, AB: Crimson Herring Studio Job - Game Programmer (Unity), 3D Environment ArtistLAUNCHES:Cheese Runner by one of our wonderful patrons Kai Hutchence and Massive Corporation (@Massive_CA) in Saskatchewan is now available on Steam. “Trade illicit cheese in a dystopian cyberpunk city filled with police killbots trying to hunt you down in this ASCII Art text-based early 80s retro trading game. Like a fine blue cheese, this isn't for everyone.”UPDATES:Huge update to Moonglow Bay (@moonglowbay) by Bunnyhug (@BunnyhugGames) with some devs in Quebéc.PORTS:Hardspace Shipbreaker by Blackbird Interactive (@InsideBBI) in Vancouver, BC is now available on the Epic Games Store. “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!”CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:Edmonton, AB: BioWare recommits to Star Wars: The Old Republic as creative director departsLondon, ON: Warframe Team's Next Game Is SoulframeMontréal, QC: Dead by Daylight: Resident Evil: PROJECT W Teases Leon for August 3rd StreamMontréal, QC: Tribes of Midgard Season 3: Inferno Saga Coming August 16Toronto, ON: Cosmic Darkside Updates Adds a Ton to GrindstoneToronto, ON: TornBanner's Chivalry 2 hits 2 million copies sold across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 & PS5 since April 23, 2021Montréal, QC: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Sells 1 Million Copies In A Week across PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox OneOakville, ON + Around Canada: The Delicious Last Course sells 1 million copies across PC, Switch, Xbox One, PS4WISHLIST THIS:Spheriums by Braintonik GameStudios (@Braintonik) in Canada. Leaving Early Access Autumn 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “As Arcos in a single-player journey to rescue your civilization, you will discover forgotten weapons to defeat the Drainers. During your adventure, you will need to upgrade your equipment, gather resources, solve puzzles, and travel to enchanting worlds filled with unique creatures.”Evil Bird Simulator by mr_noodler, a foreigner living in Canada. “coming next year” Wishlist on Steam. “Evil Bird Simulator is a weird pixel art game where you control an evil bird that craps on people and cars. Some of the people will try to attack you and you will go to hell if you get a game over. You will have to play your way through hell to get back to the normal game. Do you have what it takes?”Vintage Records from Hell by Doubleton Game Studio (@Doubletonstudio) in Montréal, QC. Releasing “in a few months”, Wishlist on Steam. “Ever dream of running your own Heavy Metal Record Store? How about having the most amazing Vintage Vinyl collection?If so, dear metalhead, this game was made just for you.”CREDITS:MUSIC:00:00:00 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)00:09:04 - 'Liara's World' by @jackwallmusic (Los Angeles, CA)00:31:44 - 'Cheese Runner trailer song' by @Massive_CA (Regina, SK)00:45:52 - 'Vintage Record from Hell trailer song' by @Doubletonstudio (Montréal, QC)01:22:33 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234/Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON) & Stephan ReillyPRODUCED BY: Stephan Reilly (Halifax, NS)
Full show notes: https://canadiangamedevs.com/podcast/ep-214-qubecs-very-stupid-language-billEVENTS:- Online Grant Writing for Creatives Workshop hosted by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - July 13th @ 6pm EST: “Join us as we delve into the often intimidating field of Grant funding and give you advice on what grants you can apply for, how to write arts grants, and typical expectations to met to create a strong application!”- Game DEV Summer BBQ Meetup hosted by Vancouver Game Development (Eventbrite) - Sat. Jul 16 @ 2:00 pm PDT: “Meet up with fellow Vancouver Video Game Developers. Free Hotdogs. Free Prizes. ***Bring your own Food and Drinks.***”- Super FESTival by Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) - Oct. 15 - 16: Volunteer, showcase your game or apply to be a speaker for the 10th festival showcase by the Toronto-based non-profit arts org.JOBS:- Toronto, ON: Bloom Digital Media - Art Director Game Dev Job (Remote)- Edmonton, AB: Crimson Herring Studio Job - Game Programmer (Unity), 3D Environment ArtistLAUNCHES:- Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course by the mouldenhouer's brothers' homes in Oakville, Ontario and Regina, Saskatchewan, respectively and a bunch of other folks everywhere (composer in Toronto!) out June 30, 2022, on Xbox One, PS4, Switch, GOG and Steam.- Neon Blight (@Neon_Blight) by Bleeding Tapes in Montréal, QC, out June 11, 2022, on Steam.CANADIAN GAMING NEWS:- Edmonton, AB/Austin, TX: KOTOR II on Switch Broken, “We are aware there's no way to finish the game” lol, then Fixed- Montréal, QC: Sea of Stars Delayed Until 2023- Montréal, QC: Marvel's Avengers version 2.5, New Hero: The Mighty Thor- Québec: Bill 96 Is Gonna Make the Province's Stupid Games Industry Even Stupider- Vancouver, BC: Hardspace: Shipbreaker Hits 500,000 in sales milestoneWISHLIST THIS:- Push Comes to Shovel by Mantra Games (@mantra_games) in Halifax, NS. Releasing TBA, Wishlist on Steam. “Push Comes to Shovel is a snowy sim-adventure set in the frigid town of Windrow. Become the Blizzard Wizard you've inspired to be and clean up the town. Upgrade and utilize a variety of plows, snowblowers, shovels and tools to complete chill jobs.”- Broken Edge (@BrokenEdgeVR) by Trebuchet (@trebuchetvr) in Montréal, QC and published by Fast Travel Games (@fasttravelgames) in Stockholm, SWE. Releasing Fall 2022, Wishlist on Steam. “Broken Edge is a VR multiplayer fantasy dueling game where you embody historical swordfighters. Use their unique techniques and powers combined with cutting-edge fencing mechanics to claim victory against online components and climb the ranks!”- Deadwind: An Open World CRPG Roguelike Adventure by Jason Accardo (@thinginger) in Toronto, ON. Releasing TBD, Follow on itch.io. “Inspired by other games of the same genre like NetHack, Caves of Qud, or Dwarf Fortress, my aim with this project was to expand on the rogue-like dungeon formula and offer an open world to the likes of Ultima to explore with Dungeons & Dragons style skill checks.”CREDITS:MUSIC:- 00:01:30 - Intro Music by @jakebutineau (Toronto, ON)- 00:09:38 - 'Labour of Love' by @jonogrant (Canadian in London, UK)- 00:38:36 - 'Gnome Way Out' by @KrisMaddigan (Toronto, ON)- 00:54:22 - 'Main Title and Credits' by @PeterNMcConnell (int'l)- 01:13:11 - Outro Music by @Composingdan (Toronto, ON)PODCAST ART BY: @Poltergust234/Ko-fi (Alberta)HOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane (Owen Sound, ON) & @StephanReillyPRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly (Halifax, NS)
PLUGS:- Support the Wet'suwet'en Defend Their Land
In a little over a month James Russwurm and his colleagues at Keywords Edmonton, who'd been supporting BioWare Edmonton with quality assurance support since the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, unanimously unionized their studio creating the FIRST game dev studio in the country, the third in North America after Vodeo and Raven Software. This is his story.You can follow the Union on Twitter KWS Edmonton United (@KWSUnited) for more updates and if you have ANY questions about unionizing your workplace DM them, DM us, GET IN TOUCH!We'd been covering the story on the podcast for a few weeks now, which you can get caught up on if you wish in Ep 208 - UNIONIZE BIOWARE (Stephan Named This One) and Ep 211 - CONTINUE UNIONIZING BIOWARE('S CONTRACTORS).
PLUGS:- Support the Wet'suwet'en Defend Their Land
We (Stephan specifically) celebrate the BioWare contract studio Keyword's unionization drive and recent win of a key demand that work from home remain for everyone who wants it. We also discuss: Dead By Daylight dating simulator, NHL 22's blatant bug (despite record profits)) and Steve's good time in Ghostwire Tokyo.
Summary:This week we talk dumb PR ways not to say a game is cancelled, we celebrate Abhi's announcement they're leaving their job to do Venba development full-time, Phantom Compass' cool new game preservation move and more!Full show notes: https://canadiangamedevs.com/podcast/ep-210-just-say-its-canceledFOLLOW US:Website: https://canadiangamedevs.com/Twitter: @CanadaGameDevsMUSIC USED:- Intro Music by @jakebutineau- art of rally original soundtrack ‘the art of rally' by Tatreal- Downpurr trailer song by +w+ (Vernal Edge) (@pluswplus)- Outro Music by @ComposingdanHOSTED BY: @StephenLCrane & @StephanReillyPRODUCED BY: @StephanReilly
In this interview, we talk with the young guns Angelo Graci (@agraci07) and Ryan Farkas (@RyanFarkas7) from Sol Studios (@SolStudios) about their new company, making their debut project Wormhole, their process, lessons learned and hopes for the future.
Full episode notes: https://canadiangamedevs.com/podcast/ep-209-the-data-innovation-centre-of-excellenceA massive acquisition of Canadian studios this week by the Swedish Bond-villain-sounding Embracer Group. Achimostawinan wins a cool $50k in hard-fought Indie Prize. The Big Con finally finds a not-bad GOTY version name. Join the Steve's as we dish Canadian gaming news, events, jobs, impressions and more.
Full show notes: https://canadiangamedevs.com/podcast/ep-208-unionize-bioware-stephan-named-this-one
Support the Wet'suwet'en Defend Their Land
Support the Wet'suwet'en Defend Their Land
For this week Steve and Stephan discuss our own personal Canadian games of the year as well as the Canadian game we most want to get back to as well as our most anticipated Canadian game yet to release!The polls for our 2021 categories will go live to the public on January 7 so stay tuned (we'll add the link here once it's live).For Steve, his winners are:Canadian game he most wants to get back to: Wytchwood by Alientrap in Toronto, ONMost anticipated Canadian game: Sea of Stars in development by Sabotage Studio in Montreal, QCCanadian Game of the Year 2021: The PlayStation Vita Port of Russian Subway Dogs by Spookysquid in Toronto, ONFor Stephan, his winners are:Canadian game he most wants to get back to: NUTS with a dev in Montréal, QC, and publisher Noodlecake Studios in Saskatoon, SKMost anticipated Canadian game: (AAA) BioShock 4 in development by Cloud Chamber in Montréal, QC and (Indie) TUNIC in development by dicey in Halifax, NSCanadian Game of the Year 2021: INSCRYPTION by Daniel Mullins in Vancouver, BC
Support the Wet'suwet'en Defend Their Land
Get all the links here: https://canadiangamedevs.com/podcast/ep-202-crunchy-pixels-are-better-than-smooth
We're back! Sort of - it's been a while for Steve and Stephan so we go over the Canadian games we've played in the past few weeks and give our impressions/reviews.Stephan:- Inscryption-Age of Empires 4- The Vale- The Big ConSteve- Guardians of the Galaxy- Chivalry 2- Echo Generation - JETT: The Far Shore
For the first time ever Stephan and Steve gathered around the same microphone (sorry about the slight echo) to record episode 200 of the Canadian Game Devs Podcast!We broke down our personal top 5 Canadian game lists to celebrate the occasion, then Stephan drove 1700km back to Halifax.
Jobs:Jean Leggett will be looking for a part-time producer soon!Archipelago of DesignGame DesignerJoydrop is looking for Unreal and Unity DevelopersEvents:Fri OCT 22 - Gamedev Atlantic (Online - Halifax, NS) by NSIS“A day-long conference, celebrates and fosters the growth of the game development industry in Atlantic Canada.”Oct 26th - Canada - Melbourne digital games webinar: LEADERSHIP & SCALING YOUR STUDIOReleases This Week x2:RC Rush from Tea Monster GamesNews and Announcements:Toronto, ON: Echo Generation Coming October 21 Exclusively on Xbox Series, Xbox One & Win PC Game Pass on Day 1Québec: Moonglow Bay Delayed to October 26Montréal, QC: Rumour: Bioshock 4 is still in pre-productionMontréal, QC: Avengers get second chance on Xbox Game PassWishlist This:Beyond the Oaks by Dragon Fly Games Studio (@games_dragonfly) in Saskatoon, SK. Releasing TBD, Follow on GameJoltPace Chasers by Studio BackPack (@studio_backpack) in Clarksburg, ON. Releasing TBD, Follow on itchioMother's Little Helper by Squeezebotjam (@jay_clipperton & @lostmercenary) in Toronto, ON. Releasing TBD, Follow on itchio