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Independent Video Game Development
An indie video game or indie game (short for independent video game) is a video game created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial and technical support of a large game publisher, in contrast to most "AAA" (triple-A) games. Because of their independence and freedom to develop, indie games often focus on innovation, experimental gameplay, and taking risks not usually afforded in AAA games. Indie games tend to be sold through digital distribution channels rather than at retail due to a lack of publisher support. The term is analogous to independent music or independent film in those respective mediums. Indie game development bore out from the same concepts of amateur and hobbyist programming that grew with the introduction of the personal computer and the simple BASIC computer language in the 1970s and 1980s. So-called bedroom coders, particularly in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, made their own games and used mail order to distribute th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tabletop Role-playing Games
A tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG or TRPG), also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a kind of role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech and sometimes movements. Participants determine the actions of their characters based on their characterization, and the actions succeed or fail according to a set formal system of rules and guidelines, usually involving randomization (such as through dice). Within the rules, players have the freedom to improvise, and their choices shape the direction and outcome of the game. Neither pen and paper nor a table are strictly necessary for a game to count as a TTRPG; rather, the terms ''pen-and-paper'' and ''tabletop'' are typically used to distinguish this format of RPG from role-playing video games or live action role-playing games. Online play of TTRPGs through videoconferencing has become common since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some common examples of tabletop role-playing games in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shareware
Shareware is a type of proprietary software that is initially shared by the owner for trial use at little or no cost. Often the software has limited functionality or incomplete documentation until the user sends payment to the software developer. Shareware is often offered as a download from a website. Shareware differs from freeware, which is fully-featured software distributed at no cost to the user but without source code being made available; and free and open-source software, in which the source code is freely available for anyone to inspect and alter. There are many types of shareware and, while they may not require an initial up-front payment, many are intended to generate revenue in one way or another. Some limit use to personal non- commercial purposes only, with purchase of a license required for use in a business enterprise. The software itself may be time-limited, or it may remind the user that payment would be appreciated. Types of shareware Trialware Trialware ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cuphead
''Cuphead'' is a 2017 run and gun video game developed and published by Canadian developer Studio MDHR. The game follows its titular teacup-headed character and his brother Mugman, as they make a deal with the Devil to pay casino losses by repossessing the souls of runaway debtors. In the game, up to two players control Cuphead and/or Mugman to fight through several levels and boss fights; the game does not have a rigid narrative structure. As the game progresses, the protagonist acquires more power and abilities, eventually facing the Devil. Players, however, can only equip a limited number of these abilities at a given time. The game's creators, brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, took inspiration from the rubber hose animation style from the golden age of American animation and the surrealist qualities of works of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Fleischer Studios, Warner Bros. Cartoons, MGM Cartoon Studio, and Walter Lantz Productions. Reminiscent of the aesthetics of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Undertale
''Undertale'' is a 2015 role-playing video game created by American indie developer Toby Fox. The player controls a child who has fallen into the Underground: a large, secluded region under the surface of the Earth, separated by a magical barrier. The player meets various monsters during the journey back to the surface, some of which may engage in combat. The combat system involves the player navigating through mini-bullet hell attacks by the opponent. They can opt to pacify or subdue monsters in order to spare them instead of killing them. These choices affect the game, with the dialogue, characters, and story changing based on outcomes. Outside of artwork and character designs by Temmie Chang and other guest designers, Fox developed the entirety of the game by himself, including the script and music. The game took inspiration from several sources, including the '' Brandish'', '' Mario & Luigi'', and ''Mother'' role-playing game series, bullet hell shooter series '' Touhou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Five Nights At Freddy's
''Five Nights at Freddy's'' (''FNaF'') is a video game series and media franchise created by Scott Cawthon that includes video games, novels, graphic novels, and films. The story arcs typically follow a night guard or other character trying to survive from midnight to 6 a.m. for five levels, called "nights", while fending off attacks from homicidal animatronic characters. Each game is set in a different location connected to a fictional pizza restaurant franchise called "Freddy Fazbear's Pizza". The core gameplay mechanics involve using tools effectively and managing limited resources to avoid being caught by the animatronics. Cawthon conceived the idea for the first video game after his family-friendly resource management game, ''Chipper & Sons Lumber Co.'', was criticized for the resemblance of its characters to frightening animatronics. Responding to this feedback, he developed a horror game that intentionally featured scary animatronics. Released in August 2014, the game ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shovel Knight
''Shovel Knight'' is a platform video game developed and published by Yacht Club Games. Development was crowdfunded and the game was released for Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Windows in June 2014. It was ported to OS X and Linux in September 2014, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One in April 2015, Amazon Fire TV in September 2015, and Nintendo Switch in March 2017. ''Shovel Knight'' is inspired by gameplay and graphics of platformer games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game received critical acclaim, with critics considering it one of the greatest video games ever made. With the release of additional campaigns, the original story received the retronym ''Shovel of Hope''. The full game was released in December 2019 as ''Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove'', which includes three other campaigns '' Plague of Shadows'', '' Specter of Torment'', and '' King of Cards'', along with multiplayer fighting game '' Shovel Knight Showdown''. A spin-off ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hotline Miami
''Hotline Miami'' is a 2012 top-down shooter game developed by Dennaton Games and published by Devolver Digital. Set in Miami in 1989, the game follows an unnamed silent protagonist—dubbed Jacket by fans—as he commits massacres against the local Russian mafia. Throughout the game, he is interrogated for his actions and slowly loses his grip on reality. In each level, the player must defeat every enemy through any means necessary. Before each level, the player can choose one of several masks that offer unique abilities. The game was the first commercial release of Dennaton Games, a duo composed of developers Jonatan Söderström and Dennis Wedin. Using a scrapped prototype Söderström made years prior, they developed ''Hotline Miami'' over the course of nine months. Söderström programmed the game and wrote the narrative, while Wedin designed the graphics. Several artists contributed to the soundtrack, which combines many music styles. ''Hotline Miami'' was released in Octo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fez (video Game)
''Fez'' is a 2012 indie video game, indie puzzle-platform game developed by Polytron Corporation and published by Trapdoor (company), Trapdoor. The player-character Gomez receives a Fez (hat), fez that reveals his two-dimensional (2D) world to be one of four sides of a three-dimensional (3D) world. The player rotates between these four 2D views to realign platforms and solve puzzles. The objective is to collect cubes and cube fragments to restore order to the universe. The game was called an "underdog darling of the indie game scene" during its high-profile and protracted Development of Fez, five-year development cycle. ''Fez'' designer and Polytron founder Phil Fish gained celebrity status for his outspoken public persona and his prominence in the 2012 documentary ''Indie Game: The Movie'', which detailed ''Fez'' final stages of development and Polytron's related legal issues. ''Fez'' met critical acclaim upon its April 2012 release for Xbox Live Arcade. The game was Porting# ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minecraft
''Minecraft'' is a 2011 sandbox game developed and published by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios. Originally created by Markus Persson, Markus "Notch" Persson using the Java (programming language), Java programming language, the first public alpha build was released on 17 May 2009. The game was continuously developed from then on, receiving a full release on 18 November 2011. Afterwards, Persson left Mojang and gave Jens Bergensten, Jens "Jeb" Bergensten control over development. In the years since its release, it has been Video game port, ported to several platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and various video game consoles. In 2014, Mojang and the Minecraft (franchise), ''Minecraft'' intellectual property were purchased by Microsoft for billion. In ''Minecraft'', players explore a procedurally generated, three-dimensional world with virtually infinite terrain made up of voxels. Players can discover and extract raw materials, Glossary of video game terms ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Terraria
''Terraria'' ( ) is a 2011 action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic and published by 505 Games. The game features exploration, combat, crafting, building, and mining inside a procedurally generated 2D computer graphics, 2D world. It has several world difficulties, as well as a character class system. The player can encounter a variety of enemies throughout the game, such as those who spawn at a certain time or location or during special events, and can also complete specific goals to attract non-player characters who sell items and offer services to the player. ''Terraria'' also features support for Video game modding, modifications through tModLoader. Development began in January 2011 by Andrew Spinks of Re-Logic. Initially released in May 2011 on the Steam (service), Steam digital distribution service, ''Terraria'' has since received continuous content updates that have considerably changed the game from its first version. The game has also been Ported#Porting of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Super Meat Boy
''Super Meat Boy'' is a 2010 platform game designed by Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes under the collective name of "Team Meat". It was self-published as the successor to ''Meat Boy'', a 2008 Flash game designed by McMillen and Jonathan McEntee. In the game, the player controls Meat Boy, a red, cube-shaped character, as he attempts to rescue his girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the game's antagonist Dr. Fetus. The gameplay is characterized by fine control and split-second timing, as the player runs and jumps through over 300 hazardous levels while avoiding obstacles. The game also supports the creation of player-created levels. ''Super Meat Boy'' was first released on the Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade in October 2010, and was later ported to Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and the Nintendo Switch. A Wii version was in development but was ultimately cancelled. Development of the game began in early 2009. McMillen worked on level design ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Braid (video Game)
''Braid'' is an indie puzzle-platform video game developed by Number None. The game was originally released in August 2008 for the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade service. Ports were developed and released for Microsoft Windows in April 2009, Mac OS X in May 2009, PlayStation 3 in November 2009, and Linux in December 2010. Jonathan Blow designed the game as a personal critique of contemporary trends in video game development. He self-funded the three-year project, working with webcomic artist David Hellman to develop the artwork. The basic story elements in ''Braid'' unfold as the protagonist, Tim, attempts to rescue a princess from a monster. Text passages laid throughout the game reveal a multifaceted narrative, giving clues about Tim's contemplations and motivations. The game features traditionally defining aspects of the platform genre while also integrating various novel powers of time-manipulation. Using these abilities, the player progresses through the game by finding ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
