Thanks for the heads up. I fixed them.

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Well, we're really trying to hunker down and finalize our game name.  Thank you to everyone who gave us ideas!  We've compiled them and have a poll up where you can vote for your favorite game name. 

Check it out and Vote to Name our Game

Would love some help/discussion about game titles and naming our game:

See blog Post: http://www.graduategames.com/blog/help-name-our-game.html

Thanks for your comments.  None of the art is final yet, but I'll forward on a lot of your comments onto the artist. 

The space backdrop is placeholder for the furthest backdrop.  There will be parallax layers in front of it.

The character is about 120px tall in the actual game - I don't have any full screens posted yet because there's a ton of junk text to aid debugging and because everything is still being put in.

I'm definitely interested in coming up with a fitting title. Any title ideas are welcome.

I'm here to start giving the TIG forums a go at generating discussion/dialogue about our game, Project Helix currently in development.

Here's a picture to start the thread, but there's ton more stuff on our actual devlog here

in case you missed it: blog.graduategames.com

I would call Project: Helix  a 2D shooter adventure platforming game – think Contra + Super Metroid + Castlevania + Halo.  I realized that may sound confusing, so I thought I would take a few moments to layout how it shares characteristics with all of the games above (and Mass Effect):

—

Super Metroid – this SNES platformer is considered one of the best games ever…and I tend to agree.  Our game borrows heavily from the core gameplay in Metroid.  You will start out the game with limited weapons and upgrades and as you explore you will find new upgrades (or money and loot to purchase such upgrades) which will open up new areas to explore.
Contra – Unlike Metroid, weaponry + ammunition will be a much bigger factor.  It’s never going to get as arcadey and frantic as contra, but shooting will be a larger factor.
 
Halo – What’s great about Halo and other PC FPS games?  The control scheme of course.  Unlike Metroid or Contra, our game will be controlled by a mouse and keyboard.  That means more precise aiming, but like Halo you’ll only be able to hold 2 weapons at a time.  Oh it’s also sort of like Halo because of the whole scifi setting thing.

Castlevania – like all the Castlevanias since Symphony of the Night there will be large worlds to explore in any manner you see fit and some RPG elements.  Loot and money will be able to be used at shops to purchase ammunition, weapons, upgrades, etc.  We may get around to some other lite RPG elements as well.

Mass Effect – gameplay wise- we’ll be nothing like it, but Mass Effect was very successful in creating and weaving an interesting overall story and scifi world.  We hope that as our game expands, our universe will expand and have similar depth (Zak and I started writing and conceptualizing the game 4+ years ago).
—

Hopefully that starts things off.  Obviously, there’s tons of other scifi games and movies that we have loved and draw inspiration from, but that's a good start to the thread.  More to come, including a free prototype/alpha in the coming months.

We are in search of an artist for an educational video game to be sold to schools, parents, etc. The Budget for this work is $4,000 but obviously if your quote is within that ball park, we will take a look at it.

The game is based on the US's electoral college and will require graphics for all the menus, title screen, the create-a-candidate feature along with animations for the main dart and board game play.

A full list of assets will be finalized prior to the artist receiving a deposit, but the artist should include a contingency price for additional assets that may crop up as part of the process.

I am looking for a "paper-doll' style Create-a-Candidate Feature very similar to Kudos 2:




in general, the polish and style of Kudos 2 is a very good starting point for this game.

My client has sent me the following concepts for the dart-game board, etc:




If you are interested in the project, please send a quote for your services, a link to your portfolio, and if possible a concept sketch of the game board and/or create-a-candidate feature to gradgames[at NOSPAM]gmail[dot]com.  You can also PM me.

The chosen artist should be responsive and timely with all art assets and have excellent communication skills.  I meet with the client funding this project on January 3rd and would like to have some artists to show him to start the selection process.

If you have any questions, please reply below.

I would also be interested in a kickstarter invite.  I am thinking about using it for preorders and would offer a comic, cd and other extras for different donation levels.

If you have an invite left and could sent it to gradgames[at]gmail[dot]com, I would greatly appreciate it.

We're working on a Super Metroid type adventure game with some heavier shooter action. 

Here's a Very early screenshot testing out some gas grenade effects:


We're blogging about it pretty regularly on our website: http://www.graduategames.com/blog Come on by and give us your input!

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The latest issue of IGM not only features a slick new cover, it also features over 15 reviews of the latest and greatest indie computer and video games. This issue features Positech’s Epic and aptly named Gratuitous Space Battles along with the excellent adventure game, Time Gentlemen Please. We also take a look at a ton of other games including: Eufloria, Machinarium, And Yet it Moves, Windowsill, Fat Princess, Zuma’s Revenge, Lunnye Devitsy, and more! There’s also a developer interview, a guide to beginning Indie Game Development, an Indie Xmas List, and more. What are you waiting for, buy this issue now and support indie games and the geeks who write about them.

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Check out the issue here!

Just backed you on Kickstarter.com.... really interested to hear if that works out for you.  it could be a great tool for other indies.

I finished up my 7-day game last night. Minima Bomber is a Platformer.  Keep your clothes on and keep moving to the right and compete for a high score.  The game takes 10-20 minutes to play through the first time.



You can download and play it here:
http://www.graduategames.com/blog/minimabomber.html

Finished up my freeware platformer last night:


You can download and play it at: http://www.graduategames.com/blog/minimabomber.html

Yeah the playable feedback will have to wait until the prototype is done, but I'll take any other feedback on the graphics/ideas I'm tossing around in the meantime. 

This looks great.  Huge fan of the original Knytt, though its sad to hear Nifflas isn't working on this.  Guess he's too busy with Night Game.

I'm working on a 7-day free game prototype for Experimental Gameplay's 'Bare Minimum' Theme:


The game has terrain deformation very similar to worms and is a platformer. The next day of development, I will spend time adding enemies and other hazards.  I would love feedback as I move along and only have 3 days left!

You can follow the game's progress day by day on my blog: http://blog.graduategames.com

we're staying at the hampton inn, but could only get a smoking room 

Issue 6 of the Indie Game Mag was released today and is available in print, pdf, kindle, iphone, and zinio:



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In this issue we review 16 Indie Games including the IGF Grand Prize Winning Blueberry Garden, the incredibly addictive Faerie Solitaire, the humorous Tales of Monkey Island and sublime Plants vs. Zombies. We also rank 10 of the most recent indie games purely by their demo.

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I'm interested in expanding my game prototype: Portals thru Dreams into a more elaborate and fully featured game.  I would love to collaborate with an artist on this project.  I would like to take the existing art style and expand on it and make it more detailed.  The full commercial game would have parallax backgrounds and larger worlds to explore and tons of enemies, powerups, etc.
 


I've just started considering this and am very open to further discussion and ideas. You can play the prototype at: http://blog.graduategames.com

Please PM me or email: gradgames[at]gmail[dot]com with rates, ideas, etc.