TIGSource Forums

http://www.nitrome.com/

I don't think this company is really indie anymore, but I think the pixel art and artistic style in all of their games is pretty well though out and original.

The closest I ever came to indie games before TIGsource was this and Miniclip... :shrug2:
Sad, yes, but I just can't seem to stop playing their games.

indie?  maybe.

awesome?  yes!  dirk valentine is amazing

 :-* :-* :-*

I really like Nitrome, it's just that their games are starting to become same-y.

I think their new game, Fat Cat, is pretty awesomely original... and addicting.   But yeah, there ideas are running a little dry.

Well you can send an application in to get a job there. They're an ever-expanding team. I don't know what constitutes as independant on the internet.

I don't care if they're runnin dry, cos each of their game's have like 50 levels.

Hah hah!   That is a reoccurring feature in each of there games; the 50 level select panel.

Umm.. guys? Fat Cat is awesome :o I could elaborate on the many things I liked about it while playing it for the last half hour, but nope, that would be too much, so just take my word for that I don't like how the term "awesome" is overused and that it's the reason why I usually refrain from using it much myself.
Anyway, there have been two frontpage articles about how Nitrome's games usually look cool and all, but are ultimately boring. Well, Go Fat Cat!
And, going with the memes and all, you control a laser-firing owl which can magnetically absorb bullets and carry a superlaser-burping fat cat! Nitrome basically begs for your love!

Ah, cooperating with yourself can be so much fun.

I've always seen Nitrome as independent personally. I don't know how many people work there though.

Biggest problem I've had with Nitrome is that their games hold your hand too much and explain every little gameplay mechanic, when it would be a much more rewarding experience figuring a lot of it out for yourself. Haven't plated Fat Cat yet though.

You are told about each of Fat Cat's mechanics in the levels, one at a time, so I guess it's not different in that regard. But I think that the learning curve is still nearly ideal, as you can figure these mechanics out and put them to use before you are specifically told to do so, and the actual usage gets pretty challenging, anyway.

By the way, are there really 50 levels? The level screen only shows 21. I'm not quite done with level 19, yet (damn, that's tough!), so I don't know.

It does explain every little thing, but remember, they also have to focus on the audience.   There are plenty of children that play their games, and it can be confusing for to follow at times... well for a little tyke.   I started playing Nitrome (which I first found in Miniclip) when I was 6.

I understand it's done for the 'casual' audience. Maybe an option to turn this sortof thing on or off in game would be nice. Default = on, choice = off.

I guess that wouldn't hurt, either, but at least in my opinion the lack of figuring the mechanics out doesn't really add much to the games, at least not in their case. They are mostly simple, anyway, so there isn't a whole lot to explore there.

I've also played Ice Breaker, Frost Bite 2 and Pixel Pop now. While I thought Pixel Pop was just too simple and easy without much of a difficulty curve, I thought that the other two were really good. Ice Breaker is obviously influenced by at least World of Goo and Crayon Physics, but still not too unoriginal and works well. At times it's a bit too much based on chance, but other than that I really liked it. Frost Bite 2 is another grappling-hook game, but actually not all that similar to most indie titles of that kind but rather like Bionic Commando.

Seems to me that Nitrome has changed quite favorably, if those games aren't just exceptions and if I'm not too impressible. They have actually prevented me from playing GTA4 ???

Well some of their games are more simple than others but I think a complaint a few people had for Dirk Valentine (although it was a lovely game regardless) was that there were a few interesting game mechanics that would've been nice to discover for yourself, rather than having your hand held. Admittedly, it wouldn't apply to everything that Nitrome has done.

(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x197/haowan/computerrage.jpg) (http://dionidium.com/2006/02/addicting)

In that case, the whole internet is retarded.   Including these guys: http://www.addictinggames.com/index.html

I think AddictingGames is aware of it.

Or maybe they made a new word.  >:D

Do you think I find that fact surprising?  :giggle: