Super Meat Boy oozes his way onto XBLA next week, and the developers are talking to us about all the details: gameplay, indie character cameos, level editing and just how crazy difficult the game really is.
RADAR: Super Meat Boy!
XBLA, PC, Wii
Platformer
Team Meat
$15.00
Super Meat Boy’s gotten a ton of hype recently, and it can definitely live up to it – it’s a fun, funny, twitchy platformer with tons of content and a vibe all its own.
Developers Ed McMillen and Tommy Refenes stopped in via Skype to talk to us all about SMB: where the idea came from, what it was like to make the jump from flash to console games, and just how ridiculously difficult it really is.
Free Indie Countdown
#3: L’Abbaye Des Morts – Windows, Platformer, Locomalito – LINK
#2: Doooors – Flash, Platformer, Hempuli – LINK
#1: Give Up, Robot 2 – Flash, Platformer, Matt Thorson – LINK
Feedback: What Did You Play Over the Break?
Some good stuff came out when we were gone. Some older stuff never stops being good. You let us know what you played while we were gone.
Next Week’s Question: What’s the hardest platformer you’ve ever played?
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
My First Quantum Translocator – Flash, Platformer, Rete – LINK
Babel – Windows, Platformer, Endurion – LINK
Jables’ Adventure – Windows, Platformer, JaJitsu – LINK
Music
All this week’s music is by Disasterpeace from the soundtrack to the 8-bit film Passcode: Soul of the Traveler. Watch the film and buy the soundtrack at soulofthetraveler.com.
Stalking People is Fun!
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Nice Episode, but where is the poll?
For me Jable’s Adventure is the winner of this week. Beautiful pixel art, nice gameplay and great story.
Now something about your show.
YOU’RE NOT UNIQUE ANYMORE!!!!
Seriously, after your restart you look like any other show on Rev3. Neither the beer and the puppet in Ep. 103 nor the slidely different angle an the teddys in the background give you the style back, you build up before.
The “Free-Indie-Rapid-Fire” Scream sounds like, “hey don’t disturbe our working people at rev3″!
And man, you disappear behind that desk.
I’m sorry to say that, but it seems Jon was the creative power behind Bytejacker. His Videocomments looks far more stylish then youre whole episodes.
Don’t let the warm and comfortable studio climate make you soft and ordinary.
Get some camera guy and go back to the urban wilderness you belong to.
Hopes for more,
Ninerian
The poll is the same place it’s always been. On the home page. And only on the homepage.
Please, please add it to the episode page’s side bar Anthony. Pleeease.
So – I’ve gotten/answered this comment more than a few times. I’m actually still getting panicked “Where is Jon” comments, so I get that even on the internet, news travels slowly. That said, this is probably the last time I’m going to directly address it – onward and upward.
First, the studio, at least in its current setup, isn’t a permanent solution. It’s a temporary one, and it’s made it possible to bring back the show while still getting a new team together and working my new job.
Just to state that again: Bytejacker is not my job. It’s never been my job. It’s a passion project I do in my spare time. I use whatever studio time is free and unscheduled to put it together. Using the studio makes it easier to edit – last week for me, and this week for Frank, who edited an episode for the first time.
Bytejacker is a daunting show to put together. There are a lot of elements that go into it – anything that makes it easier to do helps someone new (Frank) or someone with a lot of other things on their plate (me) immeasurably.
Also: I love these last two episodes. I’m very, very proud of the Minecraft segment and I think this week’s interview is great. Both of those segments speak to something that both viewers and myself have wanted for a while: longer, more in-depth content. Both segments run over seven minutes long, which is twice the length of the usual Radar.
The studio makes that happen by making the show move quickly in production and post-production. Additionally, using the studio as it’s already setup allows us to skip processes like re-lighting, moving camera positions, tracking down a live camera operator, etc., which means I’m ready to go at all times, and I can shoot the show when the studio is free in the least amount of time possible.
Bringing on an out-of-studio camera op means interviewing and hiring someone – not something I have the resources for right now, though that process is going to start. I’m also looking into finding ways to get a more personalized setup up and running within the studio.
Finally, on a personal note: your “Jon was the creative power behind Bytejacker” comment was a dick move. Jon’s an amazing person, a great friend, and an unbelievable talent and obviously the show will never be the same without him- but you can dismiss my efforts and work ethic somewhere else other than my own site.
Heh, Anthony, I feel so bad for you. You know this is just going to be a part of it. People are going to complain. People are going to make suggestions. I’ve made suggestions. Don’t take it personal. I mean, I know you’re not.
It’s gonna take some time to work things out, to get the flow going. And you’ve got a lot on your plate. People are going to talk. People are going to complain. People are going to whine about missing Jon and the roof and the skits (remember how they complained about having them?). But the real fans are with you. I’m with you. Till the end, bro.
Whether you want it or not.
We appreciate you Anthony. You have just the right style of presentation for a show like this. I suspect even Ninerian here knows that, although he may say otherwise. What he said was pretty lousy, but I thought about why he said it and I think what he’s noticing is that when you and Jon worked together, because you’re both skilled in your work, skills which complemented each other, and because you were good friends, it gave the show a lot of magic. The show still has magic, I’ve quite enjoyed the past two episodes, and I anticipate great things in the future. To those expressing frustration, if you recognize that Jon was important to the show, you should realize that Anthony has his work cut out for him finding the right cameraman. He won’t find someone overnight. Try to appreciate the fact that he is still doing the show in the meantime despite that and despite the other things he has on his plate. I’m upset to see some of you taking this for granted. Anthony needs to find someone who is not only capable of doing the job, but someone that he enjoys working with, and someone who meshes well with the show. Yes, the show will be different without Jon, many of us will miss the skits but I am confident that it will be great nonetheless. Keep up the good work.
Amen Brotha!
Hey anthony,
I would just like to throw my support behind the show and the new format. I honestly like that you are filming in the rev3 studios right now (looks like the old tekzilla setup, which iirc is right next to the new one) and the newest episodes have been great.
I’ve done video production as a side project in the past before, and I know how much work it really is as you are doing 90% of the work yourself. I just got to commend you on the great work you’ve been doing and not to let a few gripes get to you.
Oh I guess I should test out the video comment feature, as thats the whole reason I came here.
Play
Loved loved loved the inclusion of Jon’s feedback comment at the end. And yeah, we’ve got to figure out how you can scream “Free Indie Rapid Fire” from behind a desk and not be totally awkward about it.
The hardest platformer coming to mind right now is Treasure Master for the NES, but that’s because it kicked my ass back in the day and I haven’t played it in sixteen years or so.
So let me tell you what happened. I came on here today and saw the new episode. I seen i was on feedback and then i decided to show my mom. What i didn’t realize is that you MR ANTHONY CARBONI!!! forgot to bleep out the F word. The volume was up to the highest and i’m on screen saying F you.
Let’s just say i can’t play Castlevania harmony of despair for a week. Dangit i wish i lived alone.
It’s time to stop being polite, and start being real.
The Real World: Russelloni City.
This is the 2nd documented grounding you’ve caused, Anthony. What’s the appropriate trophy? A stamp on your car? A tatoo? A merit badge? You’ve got to do something to celebrate.
At first, i love your show, since I discovered it.
You brought me into the world of indiegames, where I had so much fun.
That’s the reason I’m so disappointed the show is actually turning to, but I didn’t mean to dismiss your efforts.
It’s a personal point of view and I want to share it with you and not telling it elsewhere in the internet. Also it’s not a “Where is John” thread. I know he is gone, an you have to manage all the things alone now.
I apologize for my statement about John. Maybe I was a bit harsh with my opinion, but that’s it, my opinion.
This is your show, and you done really great things in the past. You made me happy and sad. You tricked me, so I sad in front of my screen, not believing what I saw. That was the main reason for me, to watch the show.
Keep on, I count on you.
Ninerian
Jill from Mighty Jill Off! Called that shit over a year ago. Can’t help but feel a little proud (Comment 41): http://wiiware.nintendolife.com/news/2009/07/interviews_super_meat_boy_team_meat
Sure, it was a guess for a different character, but still, I knew it!
Nicely done, sir! I think the character is a perfect fit.
Hey ive been watching the show for a while now and I just wanted to say I love the longer segments, the studio isn’t such a bad thing – You seem less at ease in there but you’ll find your feet soon! Keep up to the good (but i’m sure hard) work!
- Lienne from London, England!
In before a million I Wanna Be The Guy comments?
IWBTG’s probably the hardest platformer I’ve ever played, but instead I’m going to vote Nikujin as the hardest I’ve ever beaten.
Hooray for volume fix, Bytejackery goodness, and all of the win in this video. PRAISE THE GAMING GODS!
Though I haven’t played it, I think IWBTG is definitely the hardest and most insane game ever.
wow first minecraft now super meat boy. I’m going to go broke if I watch this show much longer.
Seriously though loved the interview.
Well i think the hardest platforming game i ever played was called “I wanna be the guy” I think you guys mentioned it. Maybe not but i remember playing this game, died over 400 times, which i don’t think was that bad to be honest.
Click to play this video.
sigh, another long winded response from Joe, everybody. That’s why I give you a synopsis.
o Mandlebrot’s in heaven. Pour one out for a giant who is no longer with us.
o Free Indies. 3 Really good ones.
– Jable’s is what indie games are about…. just like every other indie game out there. It’s top notch, but the other games were more innovative.
– Babel is a slap in the face to the Fez guys. 6 days to get this thing release, what have you been doing for the past 2 years? Awesome.
– My First Quantum Translator is fun and innovative. 2 of the puzzles stumped me, but in the end it was immensely satisfying. One big sticking point for me, tho, is why is there no level editor? Why didn’t they let the community show them what was possible with their own game? If it had a level editor it would have snatched my vote easy. As it was I’m giving the vote to My First Quantum Translator, but just barely.
Hardest game I ever played? I’ll go with hardest game I ever beat. I Hate Ice Levels. In fact that’s the only hard game I ever beat. Because I had to. I was in it.
You Said it joe…
(Although I film then upload my videos, the choosing/embedding mechanism isn’t working so here’s the link instead)
http://www.viddler.com/explore/deedelvis/videos/44/
*slow clap*
Well done, sir.
That stick mic makes you look like Bob Barker. You need a double-breasted blazer.
COME ON! I wear the sweetest ghostbusters shirt in creation and the only comment I get on my outfit is that I need double-breasts?! Is that all you think about? Breasts?
Yeah, the mic was all a part of the “setup that I had to do”.
Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.
Unfortunateley joe, as a single male British nerd, I’m with yahtzee :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlg7ywvn9V8
No, see… it was a joke. A double breasted suit coat is a style… of the cut. It has nothing to do with…
Yeah, I’m with Yahtzee on that one as well. That was a great review all over.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/502-Tomb-Raider-Underworld
I think that’s it. Only thing is I can’t view it right now. But I think that’s it.
Crud, I missed bad. You gotta go way back for the right one: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/5-Tomb-Raider-Anniversary
And thanks for throwing me a bone on the shirt.
your video program is not working so
im gonna say jumper for hardest platformer I’ve played
if your going to buy smb (he is in smb)then a least play this game
also its by the guy who made give up robot
your video program is not working so
im gonna say jumper for hardest platformer I’ve played
if your going to buy smb (he is in smb)then a least play this game
also its by the guy who made give up robot & gur 2
Yeah, we’re having some issues with the commenting system – we’ll be putting a new one into place soon.
In the meantime, video responses can be left on YouTube and you can leave a voicemail on our hotline. Sorry about that!
also here is his website
http://mattmakesgames.com/
The hardest game I ever played? Ninja Gaiden 3 for the NES. I _just_ bought a (S)NES console from ThinkGeek and I played NG3. Oh. My. God. I cried man tears. The agony of playing that game through whilst getting raped by the knockback is just… ugh… Actually, that applies to ALL of the NES Ninja Gaidens. But, 3…
3 has no infinite continues. The other two did… but 3…
:c
Is there a link for the RPG game The Way?
I tried searching but it’s hard to come up with anything with a name like that.
Thanks in advance!
Hey – the link popped up under the game during the segment, but you can download the games here: http://www.crestfallen.us/
It’s actually a series of six games, so it should keep you busy for a while!
thanks! I tried to playback that part but i didn’t notice the link. i must be going blind! :)
Super Meat Boy Developer Interview | Bytejacker…
Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
@anthony – soul of the traveler was epic! fanastic album and the movie was excellent!
So good, right? I haven’t watched through all of them yet, I have to set aside some time to do so.
oh and @anthony re: the haters.
DON’T STOP BELIEVING!
we still love you and the show!
Play
Glad to see you alive and well, Jon.
Play
COME ON, APPJUDGMENT.
What is this? I don’t even…
Seriously, get off. Now. Appjudgement has no right to talk trash about Bytejacker, because Bytejacker is so awesome, it completely annihilates
dude, it’s a joke, bytejacker and i are friends. i was having a little trouble with the vid comment system and this is what happened. so i posted it. i understand that bytejacker completely annihilates. no h8
I have my eye on you.
Damn tab button. I meant to say…
What is this? I don’t even…
Seriously, get off. Now. Appjudgement has no right to talk trash about Bytejacker, because Bytejacker is so awesome, it completely annihilates said trash in a fiery explosion. Then it implodes it out of sheer awesomeness and said trash implodes so much that God tries to stop the universe’s destruction by rewinding time to before the moment that you talked trash about Bytejacker. But you still do, thus causing a never-ending loop of paradoxes. Way to go, Appjudgement.
gotcha. thanks for the clarification.
Who cares if someone talks trash, people do it all the time, just because you tell them to stop, it really is just going to make them want to do it even more,
I’m not defending her, but this is just the way of life. People trash talk about me, behind my back, in front of me, often tell me that they hate me and i just tell them to get in line.
Ok that’s all, just had to get that off my chest. All should be welcome, trash talkers actually make things more interesting. As you can see above ^
JABLES ADVENTURE. HOLLAA.
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Love the Riddler costume in the background.
Ok so are we not using viddler anymore cause i don’t see a thing to post my viddler videos??
What the heck, damn job, i come back after work and yall do something without telling me. Ok i’ll post the links, see if those work.
part 1: http://www.viddler.com/explore/ssj4majinmatt/videos/71/
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrwVY6VUnF4
I was cut short in the first one and didn’t want to start over.
BTW, whose the blonde above? ^^^^^^^ looks very familiar. Can i seriously get your number lol
Yep, we dumped Viddler – very few people were able to get it to work. We use our own system now on our own server, so hopefully people will have an easier time leaving comments.
THE BLONDE ABOVE IS NO ONE AND IS TO BE IGNORED AND SHOULD ALSO GO AWAY.
Really, i’m sorry man but any blonde as hot as her, i just can’t ignore unless they snub me first. You must know her Carboni…Ex girlfriend? sounds like it. I can tell by the way you used CAPS to tell me that she should be ignored…..
I say she should stick around.
Here is what she gets for her insolence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-UtzN-Z4k
like I said on Facebook:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo :P
i almost wet myself watching that clip. it was like ye olde days when villains were placed in stocks and had rotten veg thrown at them!
Play
And the dump of viddler seems to have worked. As soon as the new system went up *BAM* new video commenter puts up their first video comment. And the blond chick too. So I say mission accomplished, good job Anthony.
and something i just randomly did after midnight…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1ivYwlNX38
Have there been many halloween games? I’d rephrase that and go for scariest games :P
Whoah, what happened, I was gonna record, upload, and link to viddler, but it seems all the hyperlinks to external video sites (youtube as well as viddler) have gone. What happened? have you implemented an overzealous Moderating system?
Your mom is an overzealous moderating system.
Actually, I was testing out a plugin that was supposed to use oEmbed to turn all links to places like youtube, viddler, etc into embedded videos.
But it is stupid and broken so I’m gonna try something else.
Test the new built-in comment system! PUSH THE BLUE BUTTON! GOOOOOO!
OK, in that case
By my early era netbook…
QUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK…
Record!!
Play
OK,
that didn’t turn out too bad,
now Free indies and feedback
Play
Also Props to joe,
it seems as though we are the last 2 STANDING!! :P
here was my previous take on gun girl 2!!
http://www.bytejacker.com/episodes/096/comment-page-1#comment-9090
Also this is where I’m stuck in gungirl 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5l0EDCuGg#t=4m35s
Ah, my bad, Page just took an age to load
Hardest platformer ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJoYbbm7dk0
I’m really good at platforming games, it’s definitely a specialty of mine (I hold some speedrun records for the NES Mario series).
Here are the hardest platfoming games I’ve ever played:
- Jumper – many many deaths, pretty similar to super meat boy
- Super Meat Boy – many deaths as well, very much enjoy this game. Light world took me a while just because I enjoyed experimenting with speedrunning it. Light world was definitely not the easiest thing in the world. I need to try a full game speedrun. Once this comes out for wii I’m gonna have a lot more fun with it.
- Vs. Super Mario Bros. – This is the arcade game. This is a game that not many have played. It has elements of The Lost Levels and the NES Super Mario Bros. game, but everything has been made in a way to make it far more difficult than usual. It’s interesting. Sometimes I’ve had a more difficult time with some of these stages than Super Mario Frustration.
- The Lost Levels – definitely a challenge to beat the entire game (and I hold records for the game at this point now).
- Mega Man 1 – tough jumps in some levels, playing it for the first time was definitely tough.
- Castlevania 1,2,3 – some things in this game are just difficult to avoid. The bosses are the real challenge here.
- Ghost n’ Goblins – most of you know this. It has “Castlevania jumping” ie: how you would be able to jump in real life…kinda. This is just a brutal game, not ALL that difficult as a platforming game though. Some things do pose as a challenge.
- Werewolf: the Last warrior for NES. I dare you guys to beat this game. It isn’t THAT hard, but you’re most likely not going to beat it in one sitting. Levels 4-6 are the real challenges of the game, most people see this as an extremely difficult title.
- Donkey Kong arcade – try and reach the “kill screen” ie: level 117… I’ve been playing for the past 3 months now and I still haven’t managed. It’s not all that difficult as a platformer, but overall it requires much patience and skill.
Those are the titles I thought of. My top 3 are probably Jumper, Vs. Super Mario Bros, and Super Meat Boy.
oh… and of course I wanna be the guy
[...] 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 [...]