The indie gaming scene is here and growing like a CA brush fire, but it wouldn’t be what it is today without the dedication of programmers, designers and companies willing to release quality titles without the backing of major publishers. Here at IndieGameReviewer, we want to know what makes ‘em tick.
We had a chance to interview Andrew Roberts, CEO of Cosmic Logic, a new and talented team who are already making a name for themselves in the indie gaming community.
IndieGameReviewer: Andrew, can you tell us how Cosmic Logic came into being?
Andrew Roberts: Cosmic Logic officially became incorporated in April of 2008, however, was in conception for over 4 years before that point. In 2004, while still in college studying business, I had the idea that someone should start a video game company that was rooted in the 80’s. I thought it would be unique for a company to start making games as if it were 1983, and simply make a game as if it were to be launched on NES or Atari 2600. From that, the company would take that same game, and do a 16 bit sequel, followed by a 3D sequel, etc. The main point however, was to start small with a game that could be realistically put on the market with minimal development time, while at the same time building brand recognition by designing strong characters and planning sequels.
This game is the most awesome thing since sliced bread and even a while since its original release, I am still thinking about it. The indie game scene is funny in that something that has years of history can be so below the radar that introducing it again can be fresh news to the majority. Isn’t that, after all, why we are here? To cast some light on the thousands of hidden gems in the dark mines and pathways of the metaverse?
The basic concept in And Yet It Moves, is like other side-scrollers wherein you try run and jump your way through the levels but with a crazy twist; you can rotate the whole world.
That’s right! Up is down and left is right. You can’t fall to your doom, but you can still die. I played this game a couple years ago after seeing it on a list somewhere on the Interweb. The thing that got me hooked was how you can do your normal run and jump through the levels like Earthworm Jim, but you also control the world around you. For example, imagine you are running from a boulder and arrive at a cliff. You can jump off the cliff, rotate the world, and be standing on the side of the wall.
The game’s graphics are a love / hate thing with me. The level and the character look like they have been cut out of a piece of construction paper, a strangely popular design choice among many contemporary indie games, perhaps because it “breaks down the 4th wall,” and reminds it us that is the golden age of indie game innovation in much the same way that Nirvana’s Bleach album or early Mudhoney were anti-establishment and though they were excellent musicians, leaned towards the lo-fi to demonstrate that they were not bred of corporate money. But the background pictures are pretty to look at.
This game has won a few awards at indie game events and is recommended by IGN. The major drawback I have seen is that the version I played was only two levels long although it has since been re-released as a full-length. The music is very relaxing which can be good for an after work stress reliever. Recommended for anyone!
We really loved discovering the Idiotron site, because it finally gave us a way to share with you the process a very low budget indie developer might take to create an online video game. You can see character sketches, early stage 3D models, even play with early versions of the game engine he has created. It especially underlines the importance of art work and how much of a difference being or getting someone who can design graphics can make to a project. Of course you can always build something like Dungeon Escape and still have a great game featuring stick figures.
Idiotron - early Gameplay sketch
By installing a little plugin app called Wild Pockets for your browser, a tool that may very well change your life from one of wishing to actually building an online indie game, you can play the game itself (despite the fact that it is hardly finished). By signing up free at the Wild Pockets site, you will be able to build, from within your browser window, the 3D world that will house your game! Free.
The Wild Pockets software and site are still in beta, but seem to be doing very well and have lots of activity. There is even a marketplace for indie games opening soon at their site.
So whether you are a indie game fan or an aspiring developer, check out the site for Idiotron, you will be sure to learn something or spark an idea.
And don’t forget to visit the Wild Pockets site – imagine being able to embed your own fully-working, playable 3D game on your Facebook page, or any page.
Have fun and if you discovered Wild Pockets via this article, let us know what you think of it!
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