Gamescom Indie Avalanche: N++, Volume, Hotline Miami 2

53 0
Gamescom Indie Avalanche: N++, Volume, Hotline Miami 2

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Shahid Ahmad at PlayStation Europe. Strategic Content is the name of the game. It’s a fancy corporate-sounding term, but it’s also a bit “black-ops” sounding, so that’s cool. Our focus has been working with the indie dev community over the last year and a half, but it’s not all we do. We also work with larger publishers. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the indie story.

At gamescom, we’ve just underlined our commitment to bringing PlayStation fans the creative work of the some of the best indie talent in the world. Many of the games we’ve announced from our indie development partners will be making their console debut on PS4 and PS Vita. We’ve also got titles continuing to come to PS3.

Remember, at PlayStation, we allow the smallest indies to self-publish on the PS Store alongside the biggest publishers, we’re democratic like that. We’re also working hard to make things better for our partners, large or small, all the time.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the titles we announced.

Gamescom Indie Avalanche

Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
The genealogical Rogue-LITE which has you throwing countless number of children into an ever changing castle will soon be portable. Also non-portable depending on what system you play it on. But either way, you will die. A lot. But no worries, because all the money you made is inherited by your children. Children who will try to avenge you, or die trying. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s one that only YOU can break. So prepare yourself, because the McRib is back (the enemy, not the sandwich).

Our fans have asked for this game endlessly. Imagine how hard it was for me to keep my mouth shut about this. We’re really incredibly happy about Rogue Legacy coming to PlayStation. And just in case you were wondering, that’s PS4, PS3 and of course, the love of my life (but don’t tell my family), PS Vita.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
Edmund McMillen has made a career of creating intensely personal gaming experiences, pouring himself into worlds of twisted monsters – all with his signature art style and gameplay that’s tough as nails but never unfair, and always satisfying. When we met up with him over hamburgers, he shared his full vision for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Nicalis are completely remaking this smash hit, adding a whole new game’s worth of content, from co-operative play to new characters and bosses, and a full optional 16-bit makeover.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will make its console exclusive debut on PS4 and PS Vita next Spring; and for PlayStation Plus customers, it’ll be available at no additional cost.

N++ on PS4

N++ (Metanet)
Mare and Raigan, the tiny team at Metanet Software, have been working tirelessly on the final and definitive instalment of their addictive ‘N’ series, the gold-collecting standard for action-platformers. N++ will feature a striking new art style, innovative new multiplayer modes, thousands of hand-crafted levels, and the tools to create, share, and compete worldwide across endless levels of your own. N++ will debut exclusively on PS4 this Winter.

Volume (Mike Bithell)
What’s not to love about this? Mike is a star now and not without good reason. I remember decades ago there was an advertisement about whether a game could make you cry. Well, with Thomas Was Alone, Mike managed to inject more personality into rectangles than anyone could have imagined was ever possible. It takes a great storyteller and someone who really understand creative characterisation to achieve that.

Mike is now revisiting stealth in an exciting new way. What I really like about Volume is that it’s still quite a way away, but it’s already so exciting and so different. The great thing about being indie is the freedom it affords you. My team has a motto – “Support, steer, don’t interfere.” It’s how development works best. We know Mike is a good developer, so we trust him to make a great game. We’re just proud as punch that Volume is coming to PS4 and PS Vita first.

Guns of Icarus Online, Gamescom, 03

Guns of Icarus Online (Muse Games)
Howard Tsao and his team at Muse Games are ambitious. Pursuing their vision, refusing constraints, they’ve continued to evolve and refine their dream project, where you pilot a variety of majestic airships, through the war-torn skies, of a steampunk universe.

We’re happy to announce that Guns of Icarus Online will make its console exclusive debut on PS4. Majestic steampunk airships. Come on. What’s not to like here?

Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)
Vlambeer are the very essence of indie. Totally free, fixated on the detail and utterly devoted to crafting the deepest gameplay experiences from the simplest elements, I’ve always understood why so many people love their games.

As for Wasteland Kings, well, Rami brought a build of this to our offices a while back and we were just bewitched. It was utterly magnificent. You know when you think you’ve got a game and then you see something new arise from a combination of gameplay elements you didn’t foresee? And you want to get mad, but because you realise it’s totally fair, you sit back, exhale, smile and salute the designers’ genius? Well that’s what Wasteland Kings did for me and the tiny Strategic Content team.

I’ll tell you something else for free – the music Rami has been teasing me with raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Vlambeer know how to play with feeling and watch the rest of the world have fun with what they make. I’m so pleased Wasteland Kings is making its console exclusive debut on PS4 and PS Vita next year.

Hotline Miami 2

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital/Abstraction Games)
And finally, Hotline Miami by Dennaton Games has been one of the outstanding success stories in the indie world. It blends a powerful story with razor-sharp action, backed up by one of the most loved soundtracks ever.

We worked with Devolver Digital and Abstraction Games to make Hotline Miami best on PS Vita. This has freed Dennaton Games to focus on Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, which we’re absolutely thrilled to tell you will make its console exclusive debut on PS4 and of course, PS Vita next year.

This is a game I’ve played a lot of on my Vita. I found it best played at sunset on late summer evenings with headphones on and the screen popping its majestic ‘80s neon as I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the astonishing story. Hotline Miami plays with your mind. Tell me that isn’t the very essence of the provocative creative process…

The full gamescom PS4 indie list…

  • Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam)
  • Fez (Polytron Corporation)
  • Final Horizon (Eiconic Games)
  • Guns of Icarus Online (Muse Games)
  • Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital)
  • N++ (Metanet)
  • Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
  • Samurai Gunn (Teknopants)
  • Starbound (Chucklefish)
  • Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom)
  • The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
  • Velocity 2X (FuturLab)
  • Volume (Mike Bithell)
  • Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)

I can’t tell you how excited I am about these games coming to PlayStation. It was so exciting working with some of these partners in the run-up to gamescom, and now we’re looking forward to working with them more openly as they bring their creative energy to the PS4. Of course, many of these titles are also coming to PS Vita. Just in case you were wondering!

I wish it were possible to talk about all of these games and developers in more detail, suffice to say, I’ve been so proud to work with some of these brilliant people and they are a credit to video games and to PlayStation.

For now, please bear with me as I give some shout outs… — Sanatana at Witch Beam — thanks for your patience! Simon and everyone at Eiconic — you guys are a micro powerhouse! Beau — love your enthusiasm, can’t wait to play Samurai Gunn on PlayStation! Gary at Atomicom — from the 98 bus to the stars my friend!

PS Vita

And now to talk about the love of my life again. I know you must get tired of me talking about the PS Vita, but really, if there is a better way for me to get my gaming wherever I’m at, I’ve yet to hear about it.

Here are some of the highlights that we’re delighted to be bringing to the PS Vita. These are the cream of the indie crop. The dev budgets are big by indie standards because the aspirations and content go much further than the stereotype would suggest. There comes a point where the label just falls away and you just end up playing a fantastic game and really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Gamescom Indie Avalanche

Starbound (Chucklefish)
In Starbound, you take on the role of a character who’s just fled from their home planet, only to crash-land on another. From there you’ll embark on a quest to survive, discover, explore and fight your way across an infinite universe.

You’ll encounter procedurally generated creatures and weapons, discover populated villages and abandoned temples. Explore planets dotted with dungeons, eyeball trees and treasure. Build vast stone castles or lonely, secluded cabins, and do all of it alone or with friends!

Starbound lets you live out your own story of space exploration, discovery and adventure. Settle down and farm the land, hop from planet to planet claiming resources, or make regular visits to populated settlements, taking on jobs and earning a living. NPCs are scattered about the worlds, offering quests and challenges for those looking for a little extra excitement in their lives.

The meeting with Tiy from Chucklefish was great. It went something like this. “We’d love to see you on PlayStation.” Tiy said “Yeah, we’d love to be on it.” We said “Okay, let’s get you started.” And that’s how business should be. People who respect each other’s work creating something wonderful together.

Fez (Polytron)
Fez is a game developed by Polytron coming to PS Vita, PS3 and PS4. In it, you play as Gomez, a 2D creature living in what he believes is a 2D world. Until a strange and powerful artifact reveals to him the existence of a mysterious third dimension!

I cannot tell you just how happy I am to have Fez on PS Vita so I can play it on the go. Obviously, I’m delighted it’s coming to PS3 and PS4 too. I want everyone who has a PlayStation to be able to play this charming game, which is quite rightly, one of the most acclaimed indie titles of all time, by one of the indie community’s true creative masters.

Velocity 2X on PS4 and PS Vita

Velocity 2X (FuturLab)
Weaving together two classic game formats into one seamless experience, Velocity 2X features puzzle-platforming action alongside the award-winning top-down shoot ‘em-up gameplay.

Velocity 2X gives players an opportunity to experience two beloved genres combined into one adventure. Players will take control of the teleporting Quarp Jet to outsmart enemies in race-tuned space combat, and then dock their ship, jump out and run around on foot to infiltrate enemy space stations. Once they’re done with the action on-foot, they can jump back into the Quarp Jet and continue their mission in space!

FuturLab is one of my favorite developers in the world. They combine exceptional focus on quality with a professional approach that never loses its indie spark. Some of the highlights of my day are when FuturLab send us something new to look at. They know how to make us happy, because they know how to please gamers. Velocity Ultra is one of the highest rated shooters of all time on the PS Vita. With Velocity 2X coming to PS Vita and PS4, I expect FuturLab’s success story to continue.

And now, here’s a full list of titles we’re announcing at gamescom, the vast majority of which my tiny team has been beavering away at signing up to PS Vita, and some of which will have PS3 or PS4 versions.

The full list of PS Vita indie titles

  • Age of Zombies (BlitWorks/Halfbrick)
  • A-Men 2 (Bloober Team)
  • Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam)
  • Avoid Droid (Infinite State Games)
  • Broken Sword: the Serpent’s Curse (Revolution Software)
  • Eufloria HD (Omni Systems)
  • Fez (Polytron Corporation)
  • Final Horizon (Eiconic Games)
  • Flame Over (Laughing Jackal)
  • Gravity Crash Ultra (Just Add Water)
  • Gunslugs (Abstraction Games)
  • Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital)
  • Joe Danger 1 (Hello Games)
  • Joe Danger 2 (Hello Games)
  • Kick & Fennick (Green Hill Studios)
  • Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
  • Samurai Gunn (Teknopants)
  • Supermagical (Tama Games)
  • Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom)
  • Table Top Racing (Ripstone)
  • The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
  • Volume (Mike Bithell)
  • Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)

Crikey, quite some list, right? Remember, these are just some of the new games we’ve announced for PS Vita. There are actually a ton more games that we’d already announced that are on the show floor and you’ll really want to go check them out to see what’s in store for you in the very near future. Remember, the likes of Terraria, Spelunky and TxK are yet to come, and they’re going to be awesome.

Take a look at that long, long list above to see just how much love there is for PS Vita. We’re just getting warmed up. Watch this space. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Thanks for being awesome.

All the news from PlayStation’s Gamescom 2013 Press Conference

PS4 Launches in North America on November 15th, Gamescom Wrap-up

PS Vita Now $199.99 in North America

Gamescom Indie Avalanche: N++, Volume, Hotline Miami 2

Gran Turismo 6 Unveils Vision GT, Release Date, and More

New 12GB PS3 Available Today

Infamous Second Son Gamescom Trailer Debut

New Watch_Dogs Trailer Arrives

Music Unlimited Gets Amplified on PS4

Fez Set to Melt Minds on PS4, PS Vita, PS3

Velocity Sequel Announced for PS4 and PS Vita

Borderlands 2 Coming to PlayStation Vita

Starbound: Extraterrestrial Sandbox Adventure Coming to PS4

Introducing LittleBigPlanet HUB

Ninja Platformer N++ Dashes to PS4

Football Manager Classic Lines up PS Vita Debut

Introducing RESOGUN, the New PS4 Exclusive from the Super Stardust Team

Your First Look at PS4 Adventure Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

Helldivers Coming to PS4, PS3, PS Vita in 2014

Comments are closed.

53 Comments

  • DIABLO III DEMO? THEMES? AVATARS? !!!
    PLAN ESCAPE DLC SALES?

  • Hi Shahid! I follow you on Twitter and you’re awesome. Can’t wait to play all of those indies on my Vita.

    Just curious, was that “big Vita announcement” you hinted at Borderlands 2?

  • So many good indie games to play in the upcoming months! Love it!

  • Binding of Isaac free for PS+? Sounds good. Rogue Legacy announcement was great as well. Looking forward to most of these games.

  • I don’t even know how to begin, but fantastic work. I really don’t even know what to say. You guys really are the best.

  • I hope N++ sees a vita release later. N+ was addictive as hell and perfect for handhelds.

  • How about some AAA games for PS Vita? No I’m no talking about Borderlands 2 – that’s a port, Gravity Rush 2 or some AAA game that’s not a port.

  • Hi Shahid its Rene, i was so glad to see your face everytime the crowd clapped at each game, man SCEA seriously need someone like you, your passion for the vita goes beyond gaming lol. But i still think SCE needs to bring more exclusive titles to the vita.

  • So the Vita is dead then? People who say that don’t know what they’re talking about.

  • OMG, so much Vita love it’s fantastic.

  • Hopefully Starbound will end up on Vita too! I’m eager for Terraria already as well!

  • Starbound for Vita is what I’m most excited for.

  • AWESOME! Thanks Shahid.

  • Oh wow, cool to see that all of the announcements up on stage were only about half of the new Indies announced for Vita.

    I have to say though, I am a bit disappointed that easily the most exciting one to me doesn’t seem to be coming to Vita. Sucks that N++ is only on PS4. I’ve been waiting 5 years for a sequel to that amazing game, and looks like I’ll just have to wait and hope it comes to Vita.

    Ditto for Minecraft. Man that would be a good game to have portable on Vita.

  • Indies are nice, but not enough AAA games! You announced Borderlands 2, which was awesome (and the soccer game) but thats it. We need actual system selling games to be released, Indies wont do that for you

  • Wow, thank you for showing all of the new titles, and giving the vita some love.

  • Rogue Legacy is a must buy. I just hope that SONY starts doing “Steam” pricing sales.

  • Is N++ going to come to the Vita eventually?

  • Nice list, hopefully Joe Danger is YOPO.

    Any idea when trophies will be added to PSM?

  • Also, I would prefer Ridiculous Fishing on PSM from Vlambeer….

  • Will playstation mobile finally release to the rest of the world so we also can actually play some of this indie games?

  • Hey guys, I’m one of the dev team at Guns of Icarus Online and I just wanted to say we’re super excited to be included here and look forward to seeing you all at our console debut. I appreciate the need for AAA titles and I have no reason to believe there will a shortage of them, but they really wanted to use Gamescom to show their commitment to independent developers… and we couldn’t be more excited by that prospect.

    The real advantage of indies is right here on this comments area: It’s a lot more unusual to see a AAA developer dive straight in and interact, but we have nothing to fear from our community or even the great trolls of the internet :) So come on, ask me anything! I don’t know what other titles are coming for PS4/Vita, so don’t ask me that though!

    -Joe L.
    PR & Business Development Guy at Muse Games

  • All of these indies game will be mine without a doubt. Indie games have provided me with so much enjoyment and the “AAA” games market has been getting really stale lately. All the innovative and unique ideas are coming from the indie scene, and I’m really excited to see it thrive on PS4/Vita/and PS3. Not to mention that I can buy 4 games at $15 a piece for a total of $60, the same price as one “AAA” game. It’ll make it that much easier to get them all. :D

  • Well, definitely feel like a chump for ever doubting you. That’s a great list of Vita games.

  • LBP Hub for #PSVita pls

  • JOE DANGER ON VITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @a_randay92- AAA developers have a lot to lose, making a game like that isn’t cheap. Rocking the boat is risky business. We indies aren’t fearless or anything, and MOST of us are doing this to make money in addition to creativity, but it’s our lack of AAA size that forces us to be creative and do things in weird ways. In general I agree that the fun I have with a good indie title is no less than the fun I have with a good AAA title, so why pay more? Why help a company that you know treats its employees badly (Not all AAA companies do this, but you can probably name a few)? Obviously I am bias, but we look forward to showing the Sony community that Indie does not mean a lower quality product, it just means a different approach to development, graphics, etc.

    -Joe L.
    PR & Business Development Guy at Muse Games
    http://www.GunsofIcarus.com

  • Hi, Shahid, great Gamescon. SCEE seems to be better at showing they really listen to fan feedback.

    And yes, I love the indie love. I don’t always want to play AAA games. Sometimes, a smaller, more intimate, quirkier game suits my mood much better, especially on my Vita. But, more choice is always better.

  • Avatar photo

    Good news! We’re focusing on PS4 first, but after that we’re going to try to bring N++ to Vita — we want to play it on Vita as much as you do!

  • Rogue Legacy should be a great fit for Vita. I already did everything on PC, but will probably do it again on Vita.

  • so many Indie games!

  • Hrm, is Starbound def. Vita, um bound? Also, Joe @ Muse- count me in on your release! Going to support your creative work 110%! Thanks for posting!

  • Thank you Shahid, don’t let the haters on Twitter or GAF bring you down.
    This lineup of indie games is really great, especially for the love of my life, the Vita ;)

    Unfortunately not all PS4 indies also have a Vita version like N++ and Resogun. Same goes for the E3 indies Don’t Starve, Octodad, Galak-Z and Mercenary Kings. I would be really greatful if you can work something out so these games will also come to the Vita.

    Please tell Tony Clarke that Football Manager 2014 is really faint inducing, I am really happy about it and will be spending endless hours on it.

  • I already finished Rogue Legacy on my PC, and I can tell you, it’s the perfect game for the Vita.

  • I am loving the fact that Rogue Galaxy is coming to the Vita. I am proud that Cellar Door Games are from Toronto, Canada.

    If you are looking for an interesting read, check out my blog.
    I am risking it all to cover the Canadian Video Games Industry and developers like Cellar Door who are producing masterpieces like Rogue Galaxy.

    BrianSharon.Blogspot.ca

  • You did good on stage Shahid! *thumbs up* Really excited for these games

  • What’s the deal with titles that will be available for all platforms? Say, if I buy Fez on PS4, does it have cross-play with the Vita? Can I also play it on PS3? Or will I be able to play it only on PS4 unless I buy the PS3/Vita version?

  • mmm yes, Hotline Miami 2, Rogue Legacy, Fez & Velocity 2x all confirmed, and Binding of Isaac: Rebirth still in the cards. I am pleased. Very pleased.

  • thanks shahid best indie support

  • Rogue Legacy on the Vita? Def a must buy, that game is addicting on the PC.

    Binding of Isaac… is a game I wanna actually play on the PC first, I wonder if they’ve updated Gamepad controls yet instead of Motionjoy junk because I bought the game already, just don’t wanna play with keyboard :p

    Everything else, eagerly anticipated :)

    Also, thanks for the vita price drop, I already have mine, but I’m happy to see a higher install base. The system is soo good.

    Japanese game shoutout: Buy Muramasa Rebirth and Soul Sacrifice :p

  • Loving all the awesome Indie games coming to Vita. Starbound looks FANTASTIC and the Binding of Isaac is a perfect fit for Vita. The future looks bright!

  • Instead of focusing on trendy, B-tier indie games developed like man-children like Phil Fish, can we have some *real* games?

    Cannot wait for TGS.

  • Awesome and extremely welcome love for the Vita, Shahid. Thank you and everyone at Sony so much for this. As time goes on, the birthday present I received over a year ago gets more and more amazing. From Gravity Rush to Soul Sacrifice to Guacamelee and now into Dokuro and eventually Fez, Isaac and Rogue Legacy, this is a dream. ROCK ON!

  • Great to have Shahid on the PS Blog! Awesome guy one Twitter and I am happy with the indie games :)

  • Looking good.

    Any update on the Tempest 2000 remake, TxK?

  • Awful conference, just awful. If you honestly thought I bought a $300 system to play crappy indie games you better go to a sanity ward and have yourself checked out.

  • all these games…

    anyways i have a question. didnt know where else to ask it.

    during the gamescom reveal it was said there are 7 new IPs or something coming to vita.
    which of the ones announced today count towards that? have we seen all 7? i thought we only saw 1-2 but people are saying we saw all the new ones.

    would really appreciate a reply.

  • It’s nice that the PS4 and Vita are getting all these indie games, but what about the PS3? The only game that also appears on PS3 that’s mentioned in the article is Rogue Legacy. Is the PS3 not getting the indie games that the PS4 and Vita are getting? That’d be disappointing…

  • An avanlanche is the word, and on both plateforms… Shahid, you are the MAN

    And i am sure you played a big role on the Borderlands 2 landing, which is AWESOME… I kept myself from buying it on PS3 since Gearbox talked about their wish to see it on Vita… Done deal… DAY ONE.

    Can’t wait to see the result of #JRPGVITA

Please enter your date of birth.

Date of birth fields