Starbound is a procedurally-generated universe, where you have a ship, a star-map, and an infinite number of planets to visit and plunder. It is a game that makes almost no definition between single and multiplayer, allowing you to bring your character across the void and back again, visiting the same places online and offline, and sharing those worlds with friends. Its first beta just welcomed weary travelers, and though it is missing a framework that would make it an easier game to follow, the foundation is strong. I’ve spent the weekend exploring the stars. > (more…)

Arma has always been a modders paradise, though I imagine the mad success of DayZ has prompted Bohemia to encourage the practice even more. Thus, the Make Arma Not War contest. By producing content in one of four categories – Total Modiciation, Singleplayer Game Mode, Multiplayer Game Mode and Add-on – modders can win part of a prize pool of €500,000. If your project shows potential and regardless of whether or not you win, Bohemia might be in touch to offer you a development contract.

Details and an introductory video below. (more…)

I am fairly sure HORSE MASTER has graced these pages before, in Porpentine’s most splendid column, but I am entirely certain that it warrants its own post. It is a primarily textual game about raising the ultimate competition horse, nurturing it to greatness from the very moment that it is freshly stuck from the egg sac of its queen’s papal dome.

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The elves at the North Pole are unionising and some have even begun to strike at the front of Daddy Chrimble’s toy factory. It’s all on account of the latest addition to the machine room floor. They say its gears hunger for little elven fingers and they refuse to go near. Let’s take a look and see what all the fuss is about.

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Yes, “the” Borderlands. The relentlessly silly blast-fest from Gearbox, as opposed to, um, that other> Borderlands. Telltale might not seem like the most natural fit for a spinoff of the action-heavy RPG (which is less conversational and more often gunversational), but it’s happening, per Spike’s abysmally awkward VGX “award” show over the weekend. Also fired from the dudebro-centric network’s Big Fucking Announcement Gun: a Telltale Game of Thrones series, which was first rumored last month. Scant details on both below.

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I haven’t gotten to play any of sidescrolling not-quite-point-and-click-adventure Stick It To The Man, but its general reception on consoles was something to the effect of, “I can’t believe this wasn’t made by Tim Schafer.” To my mind, there are few more ringing endorsements of hybrid adventures/puzzle platformers, especially ones that bear a decently significant conceptual resemblance to brilliant brain-tickler Psychonauts, among others. Stick It To The Man will fire its psychic star lasers at Steam next week, and you can see a video of it in action below.

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Do you like Shadowrun? Do you like space romance? Do you like rescuing pigs? Do you like magical owls? Do you like pretending to be a fireman? WELL…>

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Sundays are for weeping uncontrollably, but consoling ourselves with the sweet succor of a week’s worth of game writing.

• I left this link here for John last week, but I guess he abhors the arboreal. Simon Schreibt pits an Oblivion tree versus an Enemy Territory: Quake Wars palm. Which has the best level of detail blending? Which> offers the greatest variety? Find out, then search the rest of the site for similarly excellent articles on game design and art.

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Way hay and up we rises, way hay and up we rises, too damned early in the morning for our liking. (more…)

The Joe Danger studio unexpectedly switches to procedurally-generated, Chris Foss-inspired sci-fi on a grand and beautiful scale.

No words to describe it. Poetry. And from a four-person indie studio too. This has rocketmanned straight to the very top of my Most Wanted list. (more…)