WE FINALLY MADE IT TO GDC!

We’re packing a lot into this episode: previews of Sword & Sworcery and Bastion, a look at the Winnitron 1000 indie arcade machine, a quick catch-up with the Indie Game: The Movie crew and Tommy from Super Meat Boy, a meeting with the creator of Cave Story, and a video game art show.

But oh, there’s so much more. SO. MUCH. MORE. So all next week we’ll also be giving you bonus videos on our blog and YouTube. Be sure you’re subscribed:

http://www.bytejacker.com/blog

http://www.youtube.com/bytejacker

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP

iPad, Superbrothers/Capybara Games/Jim Guthrie, Adventure, TBD

Sword and Sworcery is one of the most anticipated indie games of this year and one of the iPad games ever. We catch up with Craig D. Adams

and talk about what we can expect when it releases.

www.swordandsworcery.com

The Winnitron 1000

Somewhere in the wilds of Canadia, a country in the faraway north, indie developers banded together to create a kind of arcade machine the world had never seen before. The Winnitron 1000 is a totally indie arcade machine, free to play, that downloads and updates with tons of indie games and worldwide scoreboards.

The best part is that anyone who wants to build a Winnitron can do so and get the software to run it for free! We talked to a couple of its creators to find out how it’s changing the indie scene and why every town should have one. Built by you.

http://winnitron.ca/

Bastion Preview

Supergiant Games’ Upcoming Bastion is a at the same time a retro-styled RPG and one that breaks new ground. Greg Kasavin talks to us about what we’ll see in Bastion, and more importantly, what we’ll hear with it’s innovative narrator system.

Supergiant Game: LINK

Indie Game: The Movie Update

Remember when we interviewed Indie Game: The Movie? How about when we interviewed Tommy from Team Meat? Well, it turns out a lot of the movie is about Tommy.

We talk to Tommy and the Blinkworks team about what it was like for them to be documenting the experience of creating one of the most popular indie games of last year.

Team Meat: LINK

Indie Game: The Movie: LINK

Cave Story Creator Daisuke Amaya

Cave Story 3D is coming! CAVE STORY 3D IS COMING!

And look at me! I’m sitting with Daisuke Amaya, AKA Pixel, the CREATOR of Cave Story. Life is pretty crazy, you guys.

Nicalis: LINK

Game Over 4 Art Opening at Giant Robot

We duck out of the main conference to check out Giant Robot’s Game Over 4, an art show dedicated to video games. We talk to the co-curator, Michelle Borok, and a few of the exhibiting artists and attendees.

More about Giant Robot San Francisco: LINK

Enfu: LINK

Dave Stolte: LINK

Stalking People is Fun!

Remember to check into our YouTube next week for more GDC videos! http://www.youtube.com/bytejacker

Be sure to check us out on twitter: twitter.com/bytejacker

And like us on Facebook: facebook.com/bytejacker

This Week’s Music

This week’s music is by Robot Science from his album “Good Luck.” Grab it here: LINK

There’s a new Contra out! Sort of. It’s called “Hard Corps: Uprising,” and we’re totally not supposed to call it Contra. (Confidential: It’s Contra)

We’ve also got your picks for the best Tim Schafer games of all time! Let’s get silly!

RADAR: Hard Corps: Uprising

XBLA, Action Platformer, Konami/Arc System Works, $10

I’ve always been a sucker for the weirdest entry in a franchise. My favorite Robocop is Robocop 2, my favorite Batman is Batman Returns, and my favorite Contra game has always been Hard Corps.

Made during the time Konami was getting seriously insane on the Genesis with games like Rocket Knight, Hard Corps was all about taking Contra up about a million notches in terms of action, difficulty and most importantly silliness – for example, my favorite character was Brad Fang, a wolfman with robot arms and oakley sunglasses. Yeah, it’s like that. You either love the game or you hate it. 97% of the world hated it.

That’s why I was pretty surprised to find that Konami’s newest Contra wasn’t just a direct sequel to Hard Corps, they were leaving out the Contra name all together. Now that I’ve played it, it makes a lot of sense – while Uprising uses a lot of classic Contra visual cues and the standard shoot-em-up gameplay, this is definitely something different. Like some lost, Japanese Contra Fan Game from the 90s.

Free Indie Countdown

#3 Hot Throttle: Flash, Racing, Cactus and Doomlaser – LINK

#2 Kruunu: Windows, Platformer, Jukio Kallio, LINK

#1 Tiny Barbarian: Windows, Platformer, Michael Stearns, LINK

FEEDBACK: What’s Your Favorite Tim Schafer Game?

Tim Schafer: the man, the myth, the head of hair. He’s the mastermind behind some the most enduring cult classics of the industry. We asked you to tell us your favorite. And then you did. And it was great.

Free Indie Rapid Fire!

Dromad – Flash, Area Shooter, Time, LINK

Hipster Kickball – Flash, Sports, PixelJam, LINK

King’s Guard: A Trio of Heroes – Flash, Puzzle/Tower Defense, Irysoft, LINK

Vote on your favorite on bytejacker.com, then leave a video comment or a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Stalking People is Fun!

Remember to check in next week for our special episode from GDC!

Be sure to check us out on twitter:

And like us on Facebook:

This week’s music is by NESMetal off his album “Void.” Grab it here for free: LINK

Frank sets up hidden cameras around the Revision3 office to show everyone what it’s like to work with Anthony. The results are nightmarish, SURPRISING NO ONE.

We’re also taking a look at Stacking, Double Fine’s latest adventure game for Xbox 360/PS3. It’s about Russian nesting dolls, because Double Fine is awesome and weird.

Monday: Drunk on Set

Segment Description: Anthony starts the weekend off with a bang.

Original Orson Welles clip here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5LkDNu8bVU

RADAR: Stacking Review

I love Double Fine. While their games can be a bit uneven, you can’t say that’s because of a lack of original ideas. Take their latest, Stacking. It’s an adventure game about Russian nesting dolls caught in the middle of a child labor crisis during the Depression. I can safely say I have not seen that attempted before.

Adventure, PS3/XBLA, Double Fine, $15

Tuesday: I Want You off the Set

Anthony is a ‘method’ host. Nothing can be allowed to break his concentration.

Original Christian Bale freakout – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrvMTv_r8sA

Free Indie Countdown

#3 Beacon – Flash, Platformer, randomnine – LINK

#2 Super Treadmill – Flash, Arcade, Nitrome, Suggested by Matthew – LINK

#1 Fotonica – Flash, Action, Santa Ragione – LINK

Feedback: Best Non-Human Video Game Hero

So, last week we asked you who the best non-human video game hero… and not a single person answered Sonic the Hedgehog. Which, like, I mean… points for originality here, guys, but not ONE of you? Weird.

This week’s question: What’s your favorite Tim Schafer game?

Leave a video comment on bytejacker.com, a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Wednesday: We’ll Do it Live

Yep. He’s insane.

Original Bill O’Reilly rant – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tJjNVVwRCY

Free Indie Rapid Fire

Hot Throttle: Flash, Racing, Cactus and Doomlaser – LINK

Kruunu: Windows, Platformer, Jukio Kallio, LINK

Tiny Barbarian: Windows, Platformer, Michael Stearns, LINK

Vote on your favorite on bytejacker.com, then leave a video comment or a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

This week’s Music

This week’s music is by MisfitChris off his album “Datatides.” Grab it here for free: LINK

Stalking People is Fun!

Be sure to check us out on twitter: LINK

And like us on Facebook: LINK

Anthony’s jerky trash talking comes back to haunt him in the most humiliating of ways as he is forced to become… CHEETAH MAN. Also, we’ve got your feedback on our game and a review of EA’s new co-op platformer, Spare Parts.

RADAR: Spare Parts Review

I enjoy zany robots, I do. I also enjoy throwback 3D platforming, when it’s done well. I’m a big fan of co-op gamepaly. And I certainly love Simon Pegg. So when EA mushed ‘em all up into a big ball of download and called it “Spare Parts,” I grabbed it right up. Oh, the decisions I’ve made in my life.

Platformer, PS3/XBLA, EA, $10

Free Indie Countdown

#3: ring^-27 - Windows, shmup, Sumishiro – LINK

#2: K.O.L.M - Flash, Platformer, Tony – LINK

#1: House of Dead Ninjas - Flash, Platformer, Megadev – LINK

Feedback: What’d you think of Bitejacker?

Last episode we asked what you thought of our game, and you gave some great constructive criticism. Haven’t played it yet? Head to http://game.bytejacker.com

This week’s question: Who’s the best non-human video game hero?

Leave a video comment on bytejacker.com, a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Free Indie Rapid Fire

Beacon – Flash, Platformer, randomnine – LINK

Fotonica – Flash, Action, Santa Ragione – LINK

Super Treadmill – Flash, Arcade, Nitrome, Suggested by Matthew – LINK

Vote on your favorite on bytejacker.com, then leave a video comment or a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

This week’s Music

This week’s music is by “Noisewaves” off their self-titled EP. Grab it here: LINK

Stalking People is Fun!

Be sure to check us out on twitter: LINK

And like us on Facebook: LINK

The creator of Knytt and Within a Deep Forest just released a new physics-based platform puzzler. Is it any good or is it just for chillbros? We also talk about what games you got over the holidays, and Anthony’s personal life falls to pieces on camera. As. Per. Usual.

NightSky Review

Nifflas has a new game out, dudes! It’s called NightSky and I am excited about it in the most chill, ambient way anyone can be excited. If the name isn’t ringing any bells, his past work probably will – Knytt and Within a Deep Forest are his two most well-known, and we covered his most recent freebee, FiNCK, in episode 91. NightSky has all the hallmarks of a Nifflas game: laid-back pacing, ambient atmosphere, and a focus on exploration of an alien world.

WINDOWS (MAC COMING SOON), Puzzle Platformer, Nifflas, $10 – LINK

Free Indie Countdown

#3: suteF – Windows, Puzzle Platformer, Ted Lauterbach – LINK

#2: Ninja Senki – Windows, Platformer, Pixeltao – LINK

#1: Cat Astro Phi – Flash, Action, PhotonStorm – LINK

Feedback: What did you play over the holidays?

Last episode we asked what you played over the holidays, and the DS seemed to reign supreme.

This week’s question: DUDES, THE BYTEJACKER GAME IS OUT. And it’s free. Go play it and then let us know what you think! http://game.bytejacker.com

Leave a video comment on bytejacker.com, a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Free Indie Rapid Fire

House of Dead Ninjas – Flash, Platformer, Megadev – LINK

K.O.L.M – Flash, Platformer, Tony – LINK

ring^-27 – Windows, shmup, Sumishiro – LINK

Vote on your favorite on bytejacker.com, then leave a video comment or a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

This week’s Music

This week’s music is by ??? off the album “Wall You Need is Love.” Download it here: LINK

Stalking People is Fun!

Be sure to check us out on twitter: LINK

And like us on Facebook: LINK

Yeah, we’re all back at work. Yeah, it’s a bummer. But no worries, we’re making the transition back into real life as easy as possible for you. We’ve got a first look at the amazing, 8-Bit style sandbox game Retro City Rampage, and some great new free indie games to keep you ‘busy’ now that you’re back in the rat race.

RADAR: First Look – Retro City Rampage

Gamers and pop culture geeks have a brand of humor all their own. A catalog of information and references that goes back their whole lives. A lot of games try to trade on that to add entertainment value – but not many do it without feeling like they’re pandering. Still fewer can do it and be incredibly fun to play. Retro City Rampage, the upcoming WiiWare and XBLA title from Vblank is one of those games.

RCR is a parody of sandbox games, most notably Grand Theft Auto. You play as… well.. The Player, a henchman working his way up through the ranks of the video game world of Theftropolis in 1988.

More about Retro City Rampage: http://www.retrocityrampage.com

Feedback – What did you play over the holidays?

Let us know what games kept you busy over the break! Leave a video comment on bytejacker.com, a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Free Indie Rapid Fire

Cat Astro Phi – Flash, Action, PhotonStorm – LINK

suteF – Windows, Puzzle Platformer, Ted Lauterbach – LINK

Ninja Senki – Windows, Platformer, Pixeltao – LINK

Vote on your favorite on bytejacker.com, then leave a video comment or a video reply on YouTube, or a voicemail on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME.

Be sure to check us out on twitter:

And like us on Facebook:

This week’s music is by Disasterpeace, from his new album “Rise of the Obsidian Interstellar:” Check it out here – LINK

Sponsor Love

GameFly is the largest online video game rental service and offers you a choice from over 7,000 new and classic titles across all consoles and handhelds. With plans starting at $15.95 a month, GameFly members can rent one to four games at a time and keep them for as long as they like. There are no late fees, no due dates and shipping is always free. Once you’re done playing a game, send it back and GameFly will send you the next available game on your list. If you really like the game you’re playing, simply click “keep it” on the GameFly website and the game is yours, at a discounted price. GameFly will even mail you the case and manuals free of charge!
Bytejacker fans get a 15-day FREE Trial when they go to http://www.GameFly.com/byte

Audible.com is the leading provider of downloadable digital audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. Audible has over 75,000 titles to choose from, to be downloaded to your iPod/MP3 player and played back anywhere, anytime. Choose from books in every genre, science fiction, thrillers, drama, comedy, business, history and more. Go to audiblepodcast.com/bytejacker to get a FREE Audiobook-download of your choice when you sign up today. Again go to Audiblepodcast.com/bytejacker for your Free Audiobook!

We’ve seen some amazing free indie comes come out over the last year, and here’s where we announce the best. We asked you to choose your favorites out of 2010′s top 10 most popular Free Indie of the Week winners. The polls are closed and it’s time to crown a winner!

#10: BitWorld: Windows/OS X, Dungeon Crawler, Ivan Safrin
Original appearance: LINK
Download: LINK

#9: rComplex: Windows, Platformer, Roger Hicks
Original Appearance: LINK

#8: Balloon in a Wasteland: Flash, Tower Defense, John Cooney
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#7: Specter Spelunker Shrinks: Browser (Unity), Platformer, Ken Grafals
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#6: Sushi Cat: Flash, Arcade, Joey Betz
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#5: Give Up, Robot: Flash, Platformer, Matt Thorson
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#4: Hero Core: Windows, Action, Daniel Remar
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#3: Pax Britannica: Windows, RTS, No Fun Games
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

#2: Devil’s Tuning Fork: Windows, First Person Platformer, DePaul Game Elites
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

FREE INDIE OF THE YEAR: Super Crate Box: Windows/OS X, Platformer, Vlambeer
Originally Appeared: LINK
Download: LINK

Music This Week

Spiny Norman – “2-4-2 Gonna ride the monorail, Baby!,” Across the milky tracks: LINK

The J. Arthur Keenes Band – “Catfish Lagoon,” Pamplemousse: LINKem>

Starship Amazing – “This Belongs to Me,” Ya’ll Stop Bloggin’ (upcoming): LINK

The Shortsleeves – “Rabbit Feet,” Rabbit Feet/Runner EP: LINK

LET’S NETWORK – SOCIALLY!

Be sure to check us out on twitter: @Bytejacker

And like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bytejacker

You guys, How stoked are you for Indie Game: The Movie? I will tell you how stoked I am – VERY. And if you aren’t yet, you will be after watching our interview with BlinkWorks. We’ve also got your reactions to the Bitejacker footage we released last episode and Anthony answers some of your questions about the game. And, oh yeah, we leave the studio.

RADAR: Indie Game: The Movie Filmmaker Interview

You guys, Canada is a real place. They have plumbing and internet and filmmakers! Two of them, James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot, are working on a documentary about indie games! We had them on the show to talk all about the project, which looks fantastic. To find out more about the project, see clips, and help out, check out their site here: LINK

FREE INDIE COUNTDOWN

#3: Enemy 585 – Flash, Puzzle Platformer, Nitrome, LINK

#2: Ray Ardent, Science Ninja – Flash, Platformer, Shane Neville, LINK

#1: Corporation, Inc. – Flash, Sim, John Cooney, LINK

FEEDBACK: BITEJACKER TRAILER!

Last week we showed you the first official footage from our game, Bitejacker, and asked you what you thought. Anthony answers your questions, gives a little more info, and announces your chance to be in the game! To enter, head to the Secret Base Facebook Page and let us know how you’d call for help during a zombie outbreak. The best one received by December 20th gets to be an NPC in the game!

Free Indie of the Year Voting!

Super Crate Box – Windows, Platformer, Vlambeer – LINK
Specter Spelunker Shrinks – Browser (Unity), Platformer, Ken Grafals: LINK
Hero Core – Windows, Action, Daniel Remar – LINK
Sushi Cat – Flash, Arcade, JoeyBetz – LINK
Balloon in a Wasteland – Flash, Tower Defense, John Cooney – LINK
Give Up, Robot – Flash, platformer, Matt Thorson – LINK
Devil’s Tuning Fork – Windows, First Person Platformer, DePaul Game Elites – LINK
rComplex: PC, Platformer, Roger Hicks/Brian T. – LINK
BitWorld – Windows/OS X, Dungeon Crawler, Ivan Safrin – LINK
Pax Britannica – PC, RTS, No Fun Games – LINK

STALK US!

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bytejacker

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bytejacker

Oh, man. Some games are so hard they make you want to punch a baby. We asked for your help and picked the top 10 games to ever make you want to get violent.

RADAR: Top 10 Hardest Baby Punchers Ever

10: Myst – Mac/Windows, Cyan Entertainment, 1999

09: Trials HD – XBLA, RedLynx, 2009

08: Flywrench – Windows, Mark Essen, 2007

07: Ninja Gaiden – NES, Tecmo, 1989

06: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – NES, Konami, 1989

05: Super Meat Boy – Xbox 360, Team Meat 2010

04: Battletoads – NES/Genesis, Rare, 1991

03: Mega Man 9 – Wii/Xbox 360/PS3, Capcom, 2008

02: Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels – NES, Nintendo, 1986

01: I Wanna Be The Guy – Windows, Michael O’Reilly, 2007

FREE INDIE COUNTDOWN

<#3: Dear Agent – Windows, Platformer, Cactus – LINK

#2: Corporate Climber – Flash, Platformer, Pixeljam – LINK

#1: Escape from the Underworld – Windows, Platformer, Banov – LINK

FEEDBACK: Fan Games You’d Like to Make

Last week we asked you what game you’d make a fan sequel to – and you gave us some great answers! Next week’s question: What’d you think of the Bitejacker game preview? Weigh in with a video or audio comment on www.Bytejacker.com, a video response on YouTube, or a message on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME

FREE INDIE RAPID FIRE

Corporation, Inc. – Flash, Sim, John Cooney, LINK

Enemy 585 – Flash, Puzzle Platformer, Nitrome, LINK

Ray Ardent, Science Ninja – Flash, Platformer, Shane Neville, LINK

Listen: sometimes, a company just doesn’t know what to do with their own properties. Sometimes, fan projects have to take the law into their own hands. Guests Tara Long and Jonathan Holmes from Destructoid join Anthony to look at some of the best fan projects ever.

RADAR: Copyright Infringing Fan Projects

Anthony, Jonathan, and Tara check out some amazingly illegal and amazingly fun fan games:

Sonic Fan Remix: LINK

MUGEN: LINK

Super Mario Crossover: LINK

Halo: Out With a Whimper: LINK

Portal: The Flash Version: LINK

FREE INDIE COUNTDOWN

#3: Squawk – Flash, Arcade, Nitrome, LINK

#2: Road of the Dead – Flash, Driving, Evil-Dog – LINK

#1: Super Crate Box – Windows, Platformer, Vlambeer – LINK

FEEDBACK: AND YET IT MOVES

Last week we asked you what you would do if you could turn the world upside-down like in Broken Rules’ “And Yet It Moves”. We’ve selected some of your best answers and the Broken Rules team will give away three copies of the game to the best ones this week on our blog.

Next Week’s Question: If you were going to make a fan game for any franchise, which would it be? What kind of game would you make?

Weigh in with a video or audio comment on www.Bytejacker.com, a video response on YouTube, or a message on our hotline: (530) 675-GAME

FREE INDIE RAPID FIRE

Dear Agent – Windows, Platformer, Cactus – LINK

Escape from the Underworld – Windows, Platformer, Banov – LINK

Corporate Climber – Flash, Platformer, Pixeljam – LINK

STALK US!

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bytejacker

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bytejacker