David Wolinsky Moderating “Chicago’s Summer of Arcade”

Dave has been a friend and consultant to IGDA Chicago since basically the beginning, so I’m really excited to announce that he’ll be moderating our “Chicago’s Summer of Arcade” event on the 26th (if you haven’t yet purchased tickets, get them here).

Bio

David Wolinsky is an internationally published writer, critic, and the co-author of a book from The Onion’s A.V. Club, the straight journalism side of one of the nation’s biggest and most respected satire publications. He’s also part of the management editorial teams at NBC Chicago and adultswim.com and has nabbed all these positions without taking a single journalism class. His degree is in music business from Middle Tennessee State, which is why he also thinks anyone who wants to write for a living can, if they’re determined enough. He’s also working on another book, writing a handful of scripts (including an hour-long pilot about 9/11), and co-hosting the iTunes-featured “new and noteworthy” podcast Snackerdoodle! about made-up junk foods. In between all that, he freelances for publications as far-flung as Wired and Maxim to Funny or Die and Topless Robot.

Event Info

Dave Lang, CEO of Iron Galaxy.
Josh Tsui, President and co-founder of Robomodo.

Downloadable products are the future of the games industry; from the rise of platforms like Steam to console download services like XBOX Live Arcade (XBLA) and Playstation Network (PSN), the method by which we distribute games has changed dramatically in only a handful of years. Between July 18th and August 15th this summer, five lucky downloadable titles were included in an XBLA promotion called the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade. Those games were Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, Wreckateer, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Deadlight, and Hybrid. Out of those five games, two (Iron Galaxy’s Wreckateer and Robomodo’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater’s HD) were made in Chicago.

The IGDA Chicago is bringing together the heads of those two Chicago studios for a night of thought and discussion. What did they learn from selling their games on XBLA? What was the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade experience like? What’s the future of digital download games? These questions and more will be addressed.

This will be a paid event.

IGDA members receive an admission discount.

Special Thanks To Sponsor Epic Games

Epic Games Sponsoring “Chicago’s Summer of Arcade”

I’m happy to announce that Epic Games is now sponsoring “Chicago’s Summer of Arcade.” Free food and drinks will be provided. Big thanks to Josh Tsui and Jared Steffes for making this possible.

Event Information

Dave Lang, CEO of Iron Galaxy.

Josh Tsui, President and co-founder of Robomodo.

Downloadable products are the future of the games industry; from the rise of platforms like Steam to console download services like XBOX Live Arcade (XBLA) and Playstation Network (PSN), the method by which we distribute games has changed dramatically in only a handful of years. Between July 18th and August 15th this summer, five lucky downloadable titles were included in an XBLA promotion called the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade. Those games were Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, Wreckateer, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Deadlight, and Hybrid. Out of those five games, two (Iron Galaxy’s Wreckateer and Robomodo’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater’s HD) were made in Chicago.

The IGDA Chicago is bringing together the heads of those two Chicago studios for a night of thought and discussion. What did they learn from selling their games on XBLA? What was the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade experience like? What’s the future of digital download games? These questions and more will be addressed.

This will be a paid event.

Buy tickets before 9/17 at $10; all tickets afterward at $15. IGDA members receive an admission discount.

An Indie Take on an Old Machine


This guest post is by local game developer Andy Saia of Indie City Games and WMS Gaming.

Call it nostalgia if you must, but there are few memories in a game developer’s life as visceral as the feeling of standing at an arcade cabinet, surrounded by a group of your friends, frantically hammering buttons to save your life and destroy your enemies. We all have experienced the camaraderie of sharing a quarter so our friend can help us beat the boss of our favorite beat ‘em up, or have felt the sense of accomplishment when we’ve sunk that last minute half-court shot in NBA Jam.

These feelings are what the Indie City Games group is hoping to capture by building Chicago’s first indie game powered arcade cabinet. In a similar vein to the Winnitronand the Torontron, the arcade cabinet will act as a showcase of local indie games and will tour to different venues across the Chicagoland area so everyone gets a chance to experience it.

In its current iteration the Indie City Arcade consists of a wooden cabinet, a control panel complete with two joysticks, over twelve buttons, and a trackball. It’s powered by a partially rebuilt computer and we are working on a custom game launcher application written in Unity3D. There is still a lot of work to be done, both on the software and hardware side of things, but all the major pieces are falling into place.

We’re currently pushing this project along with nothing but true indie grit, money from our own personal stashes, and donations from friends. If you wish to help bring this dream to life we are always in need of people to assist with traveling expenses and hardware/software problems, or who have ideas for interesting venue locations. You can reach the Indie City Arcade dream team on our publicly available google group at indie–city–arcade@googlegroups.com, or you can contact me directly at andy@andysaia.com.

Andy Saia is a game developer from Chicago, Illinois.  He can be found at andysaia.com, or on Twitter at @saiacide


Chicago Game Jam Sponsors

I’d like to set some space aside on this website to thank this year’s Chicago Game Jam sponsors.

Game jam sponsors play an important part in ensuring the fun and competitive nature of the event. If this year’s lineup of sponsors for the Chicago Game Jam have anything to say for its quality, then we’re going to have one heck of a weekend! In no particular order, here’s a list of sponsors and what they’re contributing:

The Nerdery

Hosting: Our gracious hosts this year; thanks, guys!

Iron Galaxy

Prizes: Copies of Wreckateer

Cloakworks

Prizes: Copies of Shroud

Robomodo

Prizes: Skateboard decks

The Men Who Wear Many Hats

Prizes: Organ Trail copies

Jellyvision Games

Prizes: Copies of the newest You Don’t Know Jack game on PS3

Slots are still open, but going fast for the Chicago Game Jam!  If you’d like to join us for a weekend of hardcore game development, sign up below!

Word Off!

by Toy Studio

Word Off! is a competitive word game where you exchange words, claim territory on the game board and rack up points to crush your friends with your superior vocabulary skills.

Being smart and literate is awesome.

What makes Word Off! different from other word games? Love. Our scientists have found a way to compress that tricky emotion down to pressures equal to the core of a dying star. Then we crammed it, big “L” first, into this game.

While playing Word Off! you may experience revelation, rage, and reticence. Also, those emotions are worth a lot of points if you can get them down on the board.

You Don’t Know Jack

by Jellyvision Games

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, the original quiz show party game, is back and trivia-y-er than ever! You’re the contestant in a truly interactive game show experience, complete with cash, prizes, backstage characters, pounding music, bizarre sound effects and your lovable but verbally sassy host, Cookie Masterson. Play at home or online – alone or with friends – as you battle through a trivia mind-field on your way to victory, defeat or, more likely, soiled pants.

We decided to re-imagine a new-and-improved YOU DON’T KNOW JACK for the 21st century. All of your favorite elements are still there: the twisted multiple-choice questions, musical question intros, the DisOrDat™, Screw Your Neighbor™ and the Jack Attack™, plus all kinds of new face-melting features and surprises – including online play! And of course, tons of all-new twisted trivia questions covering everything from Dr. Phil to Dr. Pepper, from Miley Cyrus to the Mile High Club. It’s fun, it’s funny, it’s funky, and it kills more than 99.9% of known fungi. YOU DON’T KNOW JACK!

Reign of Thunder

by Day 1

Reign of Thunder™ is a free-to-play fast paced multi-player action oriented Mech combat game currently slated for the PC. The game features deep customization options allowing players to create and customize Mechs to match their play style, choosing from thousands of weapon, shield, and gadget combinations. Players can also join factions and form clans to support community engagement and team play.

Go Gimbal Go

by Gimbal Lock Studios

Go Gimbal Go is a challenging 2D platformer starring Gimbal, a hero from the stars out to save children enslaved from the evil robot King Commandroid. Using Gimbal’s turbo speeds and stretching Grabber arm abilities, he races across rainbow lines, dodging enemies and obstacles to reach the end before time runs out. It won’t be easy, though–King Commandroid has sent his nefarious crew to stop Gimbal at all costs.

Featuring high-speed gameplay, physic bending jumps, and countless secret paths, Gimbal races through 24 levels all designed for difficulty and replayability. Discover hidden presents to unveil collectible outfits and post fast times to win medals. The children of Rainbow Island need your rescuing, and Gimbal is ready to go!!

Proppa

by Chicago Shipyard

Proppas are a mysterious creature living in a peaceful land. But deadly snakes are invading. Save Proppas from the snakes! Tap and rub Proppas to propel them and keep them safe. Don’t let the snakes get the eggs. Watch out for the ground with invisible holes, and the sky with invisible ceiling.

Unstoppable Fist

by Ragtag Studio

Unstoppable Fist, THE action game of 2012 has arrived! Play as Fist, a hero called from beyond the stars who has come to Earth to answer our desperate cry for help. Survive as long as you can against never ending waves of evil monsters.

Deliver powerful blows with your Loafers of Light and Unstoppable Fists to defeat your enemies. Tap at one of six onscreen touch zones to deliver your attacks to HI, MID, and LOW levels. Beware, each enemy type has a different attack that will test even the most skilled player!

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD

by Robomodo

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD is a downloadable title for Xbox LIVE Arcade that takes the best elements of the classic THPS games and gives them a fresh update to create an all new skateboarding experience. Tapping into fans’ muscle memories, the gameplay returns to controllers and focuses on the satisfaction of linking sick tricks for maximum points. Combining sharp visuals with the best controls ever in a Tony Hawk game, the feel is cutting edge yet timeless. The game was rebuilt and polished by Robomodo using Neversoft’s original code and includes the best seven levels from THPS and THPS2 (Warehouse, School 2, Mall, Phoenix, Hangar, Marseilles and Venice). There is a combination of new school and old school pros (Nyjah Huston, Chris Cole, Eric Koston, Andrew Reynolds, Rodney Mullen, Lyn-z Adams Hawkins Pastrana, Riley Hawk and Tony Hawk himself) and the soundtrack is half classic THPS tracks and fresh ones. Multiple online multiplayer modes round out the action!


Telepath Tactics

by Sinister Design

Telepath Tactics is a multiplayer turn-based tactics game set in the world of Telepath RPG. Who is the greatest tactician of them all? Grab your friends, assemble an army, and find out!

Delve Deeper

by Lunar Giant

Take command of five Dwarf adventurers as they dive into long-abandoned mines to search for incredible wealth, lost treasures, dangerous monsters and bragging rights at the drinking hall. Be wary though, up to four teams set forth at once, and your greatest obstacle may be a fellow Dwarf with a different colored hat!

Delve Deeper is an Adventure/Strategy game which pits you against monsters as you and up to three rival teams build an ever-changing dungeon map and compete to pilfer its loot as quickly as possible.


Chicago Game Jam

Today I’m happy to announce the second annual Chicago Game Jam, scheduled from September 28-30 at The Nerdery. Last year’s event saw groups competing throughout the weekend to produce innovative games based around the theme of “Chaos Theory.” One of those teams has since gone on to make the critically acclaimed mobile game Organ Trail. Another, Team Sweet, continues to work together on designing games.

I cannot stress enough the comradery and promise for opportunity that you will experience at this event. Game jams are the embodiment of what IGDA Chicago stands for: bringing people together to improve the craft of game development and foster a community of inspiration.

Whether you’ve participated in 20 game jams or none, you are welcome to sign up and join us for what will be another exciting weekend of fun, inspiration, and game development.

Thank you,

Jay Margalus

Chair, IGDA Chicago

Kentucky Route Zero

by Cardboard Computer

“Kentucky Route Zero” is a magic realist adventure game about a secret highway in Kentucky and the mysterious folks who travel it. The player controls Conway, an antique furniture deliveryman, as he attempts to complete the final delivery for his financially troubled employer. Along the way he’ll meet dozens of strange characters and make a few new friends to help him overcome the obstacles in his path.

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

by Young Horses

Octodad: Dadliest Catch is the sequel to the splash hit, Octodad! This time, our cephaloprotagonist has gotten himself in a bind between his wife’s mounting mistrust, and a disastrous trip to the local aquarium! Are you dad enough to control the titular octopus father as he strives to hide his nautical nature from his family while keeping his tangled tentacles intact?

Wreckateer

by Iron Galaxy

Wreckateer uses Kinect for Xbox 360 to put you in control of a massive castle-wrecking ballista. With the help of Wreck and Tinker, travel the land and destroy sixty goblin-infested castles using six magical projectiles. Aim and fire each shot and then control it in mid-air, motion-activating special powers and guiding them toward their target. Utilize an arsenal of Flying, Explosive, Splitting, and rocketing Speed shots to explore the infinite ways you can wreak havoc with Wreckateer’s fully-dynamic destruction.

Terminator Salvation

by Raw Thrills

From the developers of the smash hit Terminator Salvation™ comes an equally thrilling and action packed arcade shooter: Terminator 32”.
Terminator 32” has the same Hi-Def graphics and In-Your-Face action as the 42” version, but it is smaller and more transportable, and features fixed rifles for improved control over game play. Terminator 32” is perfect for bars, arcades, movie theaters and other small locations.

Based on the Hit Movie!

Play Mechanix’s newest arcade shooter is based on one of the all-time best-selling Sci-Fi franchises – Terminator. Terminator Salvation™ is sure to be a smash hit with arcade players and fans, capturing all of the thrills and excitement of the mega-hit movie and then some. No expense was spared in designing a cabinet that captures the essence that is Terminator Salvation™. Glowing neon rifle holders and a replica T-600 marquee topper with gleaming red eyes complete Play Mechanix’s ultimate “showcase” piece. An impressive 42” LCD panel puts players right on the firing line as droves of T-600 robots attempt to thwart their resistance. Heavy-duty recoiling rifles, showcasing a NEW “Clip” action reload feature, add a depth of realism unparalleled in any arcade shooter. Players can add to their arsenal by securing a number of distinct and explosive weapons to battle a variety of menacing combatants throughout the game. Every aspect of Terminator Salvation™ promotes high traffic, high replay and longevity in earnings!