Merry Christmas Indies! (AKA, the "I will buy your game" contest.)

[Gary the Llama]

Seasons Greetings Fellow Indie Developers,

Remember when your parents used to tell you that giving was better than receiving. Boy were they full of crap! Especially when it comes to selling your game. :D But seriously, I truly believe that giving is better than receiving. And to prove it, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is.

I thought I would spread a little bit of holiday cheer a bit early this year, so I'm running a little contest. Here's the 411:

I will be buying two indie games this month... Not based on a demo, but instead based on hype. That's right, I want you to sell me your game. Pretend that you met me on the street and wanted to sell me your game. And I can't play the demo. You can only sell me based on your words and pictures. So type out a nice hyping post, link a few screenshots... And if I like your game based on your hype, I'll buy it.

How hard can this be? You've spent the last five years of your life making the game, right? You should be able to sell a drowning man water (and technically, I am drowning because there are so many good commercial games that I've already purchased this season).

Now if you decide to be clever and post something like "OMG MY GAME ROCKS DUDER BUY IT LOLOLAWS!!!1". Sorry, that won't count it. Put some thought into it. Tell me about the best features. Tell me about the replay factor. Sell your freakin' game! This should be GREAT practice for you.

Now I don't want to leave out those who haven't finished their game because I'm not a dick like that. So if your game is reasonably close to completion (i.e., 2 or 3 months away from release) and you have it available for pre-order on your site, then it's eligible for this little contest.

Now here's the really important information in a cute little bulleted list:


I will be picking two winners so I've decided to go with two deadlines. The first deadline is this coming FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2004 at NOON (12:00pm) MST. The second deadline is the following FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2004 at NOON (12:00pm) MST.

To enter simply post your "hype" in reply to this thread. If you do not win the first contest you will automatically be entered into the second one.

You can make two Official posts to hype your game. In other words, if you've already posted your hype but you think of a bunch of other stuff to tell me, you can make a second post. However, you must make it a SEPERATE reply. Do not edit your original post!!

Also, don't forget to run spell/grammar check. I'll forgive little errors but if your post sounds like it was made by a twelve year old, I'll just laugh at you. (If English is not your first language, please let me know and I'll forgive any major errors.)

Don't you dare criticize my post for spelling/grammar errors. :rolleyes:

If your game costs one gazillion jigadollars (or anything more than reasonable) it will not win.


If you have any more questions, reply to them here and I'll answer them ASAP. Ready to play? GO!!

(And good luck...)

[Gary the Llama]

Also, mods (or whoever has the power around here), am I allowed to or should I cross-post this in another forum? I want to make sure that EVERYONE gets a shot at this.

[Raptisoft]

Hamsterball cures male pattern baldness.

[Gary the Llama]

Hamsterball cures male pattern baldness.

:eek:

Sold! :D

[princec]

Super Dudester makes chicks sleep with you, and enlarges your pen1s.

Cas :P

[Nexic]

What happens if my game's price is $9,999.95

[Gary the Llama]

What happens if my game's price is $9,999.95

You must have missed that part on my bulleted list. Read it again. ;)

[Gary the Llama]

Super Dudester makes chicks sleep with you, and enlarges your pen1s.

So does my penis pump, what's your point?

[Nexic]

Last edited by Gary the Llama : Today at 03:53 PM.

[Gary the Llama]

Last edited by Gary the Llama : Today at 03:53 PM.

Are you callin' me a liar? :D

[Nexic]

Of course I'm not :)

I would really like to enter this seriously but Im too scared to try (because im sure to lose, and you will all laugh :P)

[Martoon]

Hamsterball cures male pattern baldness.
Placed my order, and I've been playing for a couple hours. How long does this usually take?

[Raptisoft]

Ha, if nobody else is going to enter, then here's my hype:

Indulge your mid-life crisis by going back to the 80's with Hamsterball! This old-school arcade game will take you back to the days when games weren't just color matching (watch for the huge irony of that statement in January) and you could actually lose! And you will lose! Over and over again! Have you forgotten the joy of throwing your controller at the screen and slamming the off-button hard enough to break the machine? Relive those halycon days with Hamsterball!

Help your kids build character with a game that they'll have to play more than once to get it right! Tell them "games were real games back then" over 300 times in a single hour! Tell them how Hamsterball is a cakewalk compared to Marble Madness, and they should be thankful, because you had to spend over $3,483--in quarters-- for the same experience back in 1984!

Yes, all the reasons Hamsterball sells like shitcakes are the SAME reasons you should purchase this sucker-- it's a game from the days when Men were real men with sore thumbs, and women wouldn't even look at us. Plus we spent more time on each single level than some indies spend on their entire game!

Buy Hamsterball today, it's Rodenterrific!

Screenshots and features can be seen here!
http://www.raptisoft.com/hamsterball.shtml

Get Hamsterball NOW, all the cool people are doing it!

[Raptisoft]

..and don't forget to visit the Hamsterball yahoo group, where every single small mistake we made in any level is revealed for full exploitability. :)

[Gary the Llama]

Awesome and Dazzling HYPE!!

That, my friends, is how you hype your game. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to buy it... But it shall wait until Friday when I will make my final decision. And then again, the next Friday after that. :)

Seriously though, good job. The game looks and sounds like a blast. Any game that's a mix between Marble Madness and Super Monkey Ball is AWESOME!

Edit: I touched myself while looking at the screenshots. Is that okay?

[ggambett]

Edit: I touched myself while looking at the screenshots. Is that okay?
You're one disturbing guy! I was thinking of hyping our Betty's Beer Bar, whose copy starts with "help the sexy Betty", but I'm having second thoughts now...

[Gary the Llama]

You're one disturbing guy! I was thinking of hyping our Betty's Beer Bar, whose copy starts with "help the sexy Betty", but I'm having second thoughts now...

DOOOO EEEEEEET!! :D

[Sillysoft]

Lux is a game of strategy and domination inspired by the board game Risk. Control your armies to conquer and hold strategic countries on the map. The object of the game is simple: Take over the entire world!

In addition to the Classic Risk map, Lux enables you to play on over 50 different boards. Available maps include the UK, Europe (in multiple variations), Hell, Castle Lux, America, and many more. Lux includes a Plugin Manager to preview and install new maps as they become available (free of charge). Check out some sample screenshots (http://sillysoft.net/screenshots/).

Lux comes with a variety of different AI personalities for single player ranging from easy to HARD. However, the real shock-a-block comes in the rich multiplayer environment. Lux includes a built-in game finder with details about all the current public games available for joining. All public games are scored on the Lux ranking system. The replay value is endless as you compete against the hundreds of active players to climb the ranks of Luxerdom (http://sillysoft.net/rankings/). Every user also gets their own individual rankings page (example (http://sillysoft.net/rankings/user/Pi)) that records their results.

Full details on Lux can be found at sillysoft.net (http://sillysoft.net)

[Gary the Llama]

Take over the world... AND LIKE IT!!

Nicely done! The screenshots look great. Big and colorful. Plus I'm a huge fan of Risk and Risk-like games (especially the board game, Settlers). I've got a friend who would love playing this and my wife would love it too. Does it support hot seat multiplayer?

I hate the name though... Reminds me of the Linux penguin Tux. Was that on purpose? What's the history behind the name?

Thanks for the entry!

[Dom]

Since the dawn of time, mankind has sought to expand their horizons, to push back the boandaries of the possible, to go beyond what they know, and mess with what they shouldn't.

This spirit of exploration is honoured today in what could be the gaming event of the century...

--=={ Puzzle Stax }==-- (http://www.crystalsquid.com/games/puzzle_stax.php)

Such a simple game belies unfathomable depths and devious addictiveness that will not only have you weeping with relief, but sometimes tearing your hair out in frustration (Maybe Hamsterball could cure that too?) As a testement to the spirits of accomplishment, I urge to to to try the best you can, and then gaze in rapt amazement at the few, those lucky chosen few who have managed to crawl above the writhing, seething mass of humanity and plant the flag of achievement into the summit of Mt. High Score (http://www.crystalsquid.com/games/ps/highscores.php)!

I leave you with one final thought... a good friend of mine gave a copy to his wife, who has been quiet now for nearly two whole days! Surely anything that can bring such peace and harmony to families across the globe deserves your support...

Think of the kittens...

[lakibuk]

I give you mine for free
http://www.blueskied.com/xmas/christmas_main.htm

[princec]

The Dudester is trapped in Dr Doooom's Bad Trip machine, and if he doesn't get out quick he's going to miss a hot date at the burger joint! Unfortunately the wierdy hallucinations he's experiencing make escape tricky without someone to guide him. He's got to dodge, shoot, solve puzzles, and occasionally eat his way out of trouble. No two games are the same! And they're gloriously short, lasting only 10 minutes, so you can get on with your life afterwards for a bit before you are forced by tremors and delusions to play again.

The Dudester that escapes quickest gains the respect and admiration of all ther other dudes on the online hiscore table. And I bet you can't escape in under 5 minutes.

Cas :)

[Sillysoft]

I've got a friend who would love playing this and my wife would love it too. Does it support hot seat multiplayer?Yep, you can can play multiplayer on one computer. Just set multiple players to be Human. There is also a local record book that keeps track of all games that are played on your computer.

I hate the name though... Reminds me of the Linux penguin Tux. Was that on purpose? What's the history behind the name?No connection to Tux the pengiun was intended. Lux started out as the 'code-name' for my game because it was a short and I thought it sounded cool. Then I was too busy getting it finished to worry about it. Then I was planning on changing the name, but I couldn't come up with anything better so I kept it. The good thing about the name is that it allows for easy wordplay. My users are Luxers, the really good ones are Luxmasters, you can enjoy a night of Luxing, one of the default enemies is named Lux Luthor, Lux it or leave it, etc, etc :cool:

Thanks for the entry! My pleasure. I like the idea behind this here contest of yours.

[BantamCityGames]

Trials of Werlin - Solving puzzles, one spell at a time.

Trials of Werlin mixes arcade-style action with mind-boggling puzzles!

Preface:
"Studying magic is not easy", said the Blue Wizard. "I know", Werlin said eagerly, "but all I've ever dreamed about is being a great wizard, like you." "Patience young Werlin...", the Wizard says in a flattered voice. "Before you become a full-fledged wizard, you must prove yourself by completing all of the levels in the Wizard's Labyrinth." "Then and only then, will you have the wisdom necessary to follow the path of a true wizard." "...Your journey awaits."

Immerse yourself in a fun world with Werlin as you guide him through the Wizard's Labyrinth, solving mind-bending puzzles, while avoiding monsters, traps, and other dangerous obstacles. With magic as his only advantage, Werlin will have to be brave, cunning, and quick. He cannot succeed without your help!

If you're looking for mindless clicking turn back now! Trials of Werlin will get those gears turning again! Each level was carefully planned to create a fun and challenging atmosphere.

If you think you have what it takes, you can find more info and screenshots here. (http://www.bantamcity.com/werlin)

[StormcloudCreations]

Here goes nothing: :)

Voyager is a unique RPG/adventure/card game where you become a brave Wizard traveling through mysterious realms, uncovering valuable treasures and relics and battling evil creatures of all types.

Play 7 devious mini-games, undertake hundreds of different quests with different results possible, meet strange races, find thousands of items each with different value ranges, experience thousands of events, play with over 200 different cards in our unique card combat system, and with our randomly generated worlds to explore each game, no two games are EVER the same! Post top scores on our LIVE internet scoreboard and even win prizes each month for the top scores.

Features high-quality artwork and music and an easy to use interface. Become a Voyager today!

Official page with details, purchase links and screenshots:
http://www.stormcloudcreations.com/voyager.htm

[Anthony Flack]

Plus we spent more time on each single level than some indies spend on their entire game!

Herein lies the key to Hamsterball's greatness. It's so obviously true.

[arcadetown]

Love our game otherwise Cas's Super Dudester might pay you a visit and drop something in your drink making you see all sorts of bizarre colors plus grow uncontrollable amounts of hair on your back.

[Gary the Llama]

I wish a curse of hair on your back.

Too late man. I've got a forest back there.

But it's got quite a few rare and exotic species of life growing on it so the government pays me to not shave it off.

Hey, that gives me an idea for a game. :)

[Surrealix]

Ok, here goes. Please don't laugh. ;)

The music is pounding, the icon flashing... you steel your nerves and take a deep breath. Start.

The ball leaps from the paddle, flying towards the center of the level. You tense. It bounces off the level, leaving a huge chunk ripped from the image. Powerups explode from the collision, drawn inexorably toward the outside. Your eyes dart across the screen, tracking the spherical blur of the ball.

You swing the paddle round the side of the screen, tracking a circle around the outside of the level. Crack. The ball collides, darting off at an obscure tangent. Red. Powerup. Your paddle shrinks to half it's size. Yellow. Dodge it. Swing the paddle back around the other side, you're travelling too fast to stop. Intercept the ball again. You're sure it's sped up.

Another chunk is torn from the level, the ball ricocheting off on a tangent. You're too far away to stop it. Yellow. Slow. You desperately move your paddle round the level. Crack. The ball is saved. You didn't know your mouse could move that fast.

Glance to the side, nearly there. Another swarm of powerups approaches. You don't have time to worry about them. The ball has almost reached the other side. No Lives either. Your heart starts beating furiously. Saved. Just.

Only one hit to go, you hope. The ball flashes past the level, scraping the side. 5% left. You need 4%.

Crack. Last hit. This time. The ball tears towards the level. Yes! It hits!

You let out a sigh of relief. Yes!, you did it, finished, passed. You stare at the screen, "15 Seconds". And it's only the first level... on easy.

----------------

It's been improved no end thanks to these forums. Hopefully it will be finished in the next few weeks.

Official page
http://www.freewebs.com/surrealixproductions/softwareradia.htm

Surrealix :)

[Reactor]

Cellblock Squadrons, coming soon.


No multiplayer. No groundbreaking gameplay, and no complex story.
No roaming freedom. No trading amongst the stars, and no tactical displays.

But, one hundred criminals versus the most dangerous starships mankind has ever known. You’re not going to save the universe. This time, you’re only going to save yourself.

Get ready, space sims are about to change, forever.

[Reactor]

And on a side note- Surrealix, that was just classic :)

[20thCenturyBoy]

Bloody hell, Hamsterball is rather good isn't it?

<hides head in shame for his own pathetic efforts :eek: >

[Gary the Llama]

Thursday bump.

(Don't forget, the first deadline is tomorrow at noon MST.)

[Gary the Llama]

This is a couple of hours late but I woke up sick this morning so at least I have an excuse. The first winner is...

Hamsterball

The pitch was funny, the screenshots are great, it looks and sounds incredibly polished.

But wait, there's more...

Lux is also a winner!! I was able to look past the crappy name (sorry, I just don't like it) and it looks like Lux is going to be the kind of game that will keep me busy for hours.

If you didn't win, don't feel bad. Remember, there's another contest a week from today so place your entries.

Congratulations to those who won. I can't wait to start playing the games. :)

[BantamCityGames]

:( I guess Werlin is gonna have another unhappy Christmas :(

(my new plan is to guilt people into buying ToW)

[Gary the Llama]

(my new plan is to guilt people into buying ToW)

Good plan. :)

And don't worry, you've already been entered into next week's contest so you have another chance to win. If it makes you feel any better, you were #3.

Good luck next week.

[Andy]

... the screenshots are great ...

Really?! Wow! Nice to know. Just for sure that checkboarded ones?-or we are looking on different screenshots? ;-)

[Raptisoft]

Woohoo! Thanks for buying, glad you liked it!

(Thank God getting my head flushed down toilets in high school made me funny)

[Gary the Llama]

Woohoo! Thanks for buying, glad you liked it!

(Thank God getting my head flushed down toilets in high school made me funny)

Sup swirlie buddy? ;)

Btw, just played the game. It's a lot of fun but it sure does bring back memories of throwing the freakin' Nintendo controller in frusteration (Marble Madness is why I needed therapy).

What's the best way to control the game? Keyboard or mouse? I'm using the keyboard for now but should I be using the mouse? Or *gasp* both?

Thanks and congrats!

[Sillysoft]

Much thanks. You should make a "Gary the Llama Approved" button or something. I would proudly display it. :)

[Raptisoft]

If you can get hold of a trackball, trackball is perfect. Otherwise, I like the keyboard, but most players seem to like the mouse. (You can adjust sensitivity in options).

[radiance]

Okay, I suppose I can't win anyway since the peripheral you need to play my game brings the price just over one gazillion jigadollars, but oh well, here's a story for you. :D


One fine day in a perverse fit of pique Gary the Llama decided to buy aquadot!red, a game he'd never heard of based on a game that had been played and copied and cloned to death for decades.

But Gary was happy. He was supporting a fellow developer AND he was helping the environment by not driving to a big box store to purchase an over-packaged game that would be obsolete in 23 days.

At least, Gary was happy until the next day when he proudly mentioned his purchase to his friend Edgar who, upon hearing the wonderful news arched one eyebrow and said to Gary, "Dude, that's great, but you don't own a Mac!"

And it all came rushing back to Gary. The one crucial fact he had been told but had not paid attention too. After all, who had ever heard of a Mac-only game? Preposterous!

Yes, preposterous perhaps, but sadly true. He had bought a game that he couldn't play. And everyone in the village would find out and mock him for days and days.

Unless...

"Yuh, huh," he said to Edgar. "I do too own a Mac, see..." And at that moment, as if by magic, a Mac appeared on Gary's desk. (Oddly, and maybe coincidentally, $2000 also disappeared from Gary's bank account at exactly that moment).

Edgar eyed the Mac suspiciously for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "Hmmm, funny I never noticed that before," he said. "So, can I play aquadot!red?"

And so all was well. For only $2020 Gary had a great game, was supporting a fellow developer, was helping the environment and most importantly, he was avoiding public ridicule.

Yes, all was well indeed!

Seasons Greetings ;)

[Nexic]

Okay, Xeno Assault II isnt finished but it should be either by the end of this week or the end of next week and you can preorder on Plimus.

Here we go:


Blast aliens and save the universe in an all new sequel to one of the most highly praised games of this year. Xeno Assault II will capture your mind with breath taking game play and heart pounding arcade action the likes of which is rarely seen in a retro shooter.

Lets be honest, beating this game will not be easy. You will need speed, skill, cunning and a shear lust for destruction if you want to survive the thousands of alien craft that await you. If you enjoy being in the thick of the action this game is certainly for you!

During the game you will get to use 15 different kinds of powerful weaponry. Some points in the game are bound to seem easy with such a powerful array of earth shattering weapons. But don't get too happy, you have 10 HUGE alien boss ships to fight, and believe me, their firepower will always be heavier than yours!

Saving the world not enough for you? Well that’s great because Xeno Assault II has its own online score table. This means you can compete with people all around the world! Find out if your an Alien Lover, or an Ultimate Hero.

Xeno Assault II won't leave you bored and disappointed. It will leave you in a gibbering frenzy of excitement!


Features:
- Heavily addictive retro game play
- 100 Fun Injected stages in each game mode
- 4 Intriguing game modes
- 2 Secret game modes to be unlocked
- 38 types of Alien enemy to destroy
- A huge variety of powerups and special weapons.
- Stunning graphics and sound
- Online Score Table!

See http://www.jaggedbladesoft.com/xenoassault2/ for screen shots and misc artwork.