ATR #71: SIX and PAX 2017! Expo extravaganza!
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Two incredible video game expos this past weekend: SIX, the Seattle Indie Expo, and PAX, the Penny Arcade Expo kept That Guy Named John and This Guy Named Steve busy all weekend! Check out interviews with game creators as well as our best of!
Time code breakdown:
0m:00s – 3m:40s: Intro live from the floor of SIX, the Seattle Indie Expo
3m:40s – 14m:20s: Interview with SIX organizer Tim Cullings, who also runs Seattle Indies, which hosts indie game developer meet ups all year. Find Tim on Twitter here @TimCullings, and also follow Seattle Indies @SeattleIndies, and the SIX expo @SIXatPAX for all of the updates and programs during the year.
14m:20s – 22m:55s: Interview with Josh Pearce of “Long Neck Games”, and co-developer of the new game “REZ PLZ”. Twitter link: @RezPlzGame and website: www.rezplzgame.com
22m:55s – 32m:55s: Interview with Joe Kelly (Twitter: @udonengineering) of “Psydra Games”, developer of “Mike Dies”, which you can find on Twitter: @Psydragames and website: www.mikedies.com.
32m:55s – 40m:00s: Steve and I give our overall impressions of both SIX and PAX, and some highlights, before going into our respective top 3 from each expo.
40m:00s – 43m:30s: Steve starts off with his #3 choice from SIX which is “Dreadnoughts”, a tank battle game that plays with physics is a unique way.
Twitter link for the game: @treadnaughts and their website www.treadnaughts.com
43m:30s – 46m:30s: John’s #3 choice from SIX is “Roundgard”, which is a Peggle like game with some fun RPG elements thrown in.
Twitter link for the game: @Roundgard and their website www.wonderbellygames.com
46m:30s – : Steve’s #2 choice from SIX is “Mike Dies”, a 2D side scrolling puzzle adventure game that has slick graphics and great sound design.
Twitter link for the game: @Psydragames and their website www.mikedies.com.
46m:30s – 51m40s: John’s #2 choice from SIX is also “Mike Dies”!
Twitter link for the game: @Psydragames and their website www.mikedies.com.
51m40s – 56m:50s: Steve’s honorable mention from SIX is “Guilt Battle Arena”, which is fascinating take on the party game with crazy fast paced action. He also talks about a few of his other favorites.
Twitter link for the game: @guilt_B_arena and their website www.invinciblecat.com
56m:50s – 58m:17s: In another crazy moment of a game standing out, John’s honorable mention from SIX is also “Guilt Battle Arena”!
Twitter link for the game: @guilt_B_arena and their website www.invinciblecat.com
58m:17s – 1h:05m: Steve’s best in show of the Seattle Indie Expo 2017 is …. “Cascade Quest” by IceFall Games! This game brought Steve back to some of his best gaming memories from childhood playing “King’s Quest” and other Sierra games.
Twitter link for the game: @icefallgames and their website www.cascadequestgame.com
1h:05m – 1h:07m: John’s best in show of the Seattle Indie Expo 2017 is …. “Rez Plz” by Long Neck Games! This super stylized love letter to classic NES games takes a bold step and introduces a unique gameplay element of needing the other player to die (multiple times) to complete the stages.
Twitter link for the game: @RezPlzGame and website: www.rezplzgame.com
1h:07m – 1h:23m: The great PAX discussion begins with observations about VR, the focus on indie games, and mentioning some quick hits we saw!
1h:23m – 1h:26m: Steve’s #3 choice from PAX 2017 is “Return of the Obra Dinn” by Lucas Pope that shows off some gorgeous old school Apple graphics in a new way.
Twitter link for the game: @Dukope and website: www.dukope.com
1h:26m – 1h:29m: John’s #3 choice from PAX 2017 is “Ape Out” by Gabe Cuzzilo which has one of the best sound designs I have heard in years.
Twitter link for the game: @GabeCuzzilo
1h:29m – 1h:37m: Steve’s #2 choice from PAX 2017 is actually two separate VR games; “Marvel: Powers United” for the amazing graphics and engaging gameplay, and “Job Simulator” for the fun and simple premise. We also each pick a winner for the great Oculus vs Vive format wars around the 1h:33 mark.
Website for the game: www.Marvelpowersunite.com and www.jobsimulator.com
1h:37m – : John’s #2 choice for PAX 2017 is “Death Squared” by SMG. Beautiful graphics and intuitive game make this challenging 2-4 person co-op game truly unique. Also, John talks about a depressing and sad moment he had while playing VR.
Twitter link for the game: @SMGstudio and website: www.deathsquared.com
1h:42m – 1h44m: Steve’s honorable mention for PAX 2017 is “UFO 50” because it emulates a ton of NES classics with modern twists.
Website for the game www.ufo50game.com
1h44m – 1h:46m: Steve’s best in show for Penny Arcade Expo 2017 is ….. “Shadow of War”, the sequel to absolutely stunning “Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor” from 2014.
1h:46m – 1h:47m: John’s honorable mention for PAX 2017 is “Shadow of War” which is undoubtedly one of the biggest games of 2017.
1h:47m – : John’s best in show for Penny Arcade Expo 2017 is “Space Pirate Trainer”! This super fast, colorful, and diverse game easily took John’s top spot … even if he cannot say the name.
Website for the game: www.spacepiratetrainer.com
Thank you so much to all of the amazing guests on this episode:
You can find Steve on Twitter: @steveblog, Instagram: @standinside plus you should check out his video work with National Geographic Expeditions at his website: http://standinsidemedia.com/.
Tim Cullings: Organizer of SIX and head of the Seattle Indies
Josh Pearce: Game developer and founder of “Long Neck Games”
Joe Kelly: Game developer and creator of “Mike Dies”
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