Hi, everyone! Or at least....everyone who is still on deviantart.
Hope you have all been well and had quite the happy holidays!
As we are now into 2024, I am proud to say that I have completed development of my next game, which is one that I've been wanting to have out there for the longest time - and a release date has been locked in place!
Mystery of Melody Memorial is a musical adventure game inspired by the likes of Paper Mario and PaRappa the Rapper. You play as Joseph Teddie, a homeless bear who has traveled across the land for most of his life to find the title locale. Along the way, he'll be singing with a cast of colorful characters while traversing through many dangers that may lurk within his path.
And for the first time ever, Joseph won't be alone.
Angeli Lovely is a bug girl who lives in Mezzo Marsh with her decidedly less-than-pleasant father. After hearing of Joseph's quest, she goes on the adventure to discover Melody Memorial herself in hopes of finding treasures long rumored about. What really awaits the duo at the end of journey? Well, that's for you to see...
Alongside the expansive Story mode, you can also play through the Arcade mode, which consists of the songs that Joseph and Angeli get to partake in during the adventure (plus a couple of bonus minigames). You can set high scores on each song, as well as set a Total High Score that combines every stage's.
Mystery of Melody Memorial will be launching for PC on Steam and Itch.io on February 23rd!
In the meantime, my available games are currently participating in the Steam Winter Sale, including my 2023 releases Game Cycle, Hoppy Square DX, and The Wingless Bee! I articularly recommend grabbing The Wingless Bee, as it's what you would get if I created a new installment in the Frogger franchise. I very much enjoy the work I put into that one, and I hope you do too!
That's all I have to say! Have a great rest of your day, and I wish you an awesome 2024.
-Ryan
Game Cycle is out on Steam!
Several months after debuting as an Itch.io release, my 2022 title Game Cycle is finally heading to Steam on January 20th!
The unexpected technical hurdles that prevented the game from being a simultaneous release on Steam on Itch have been cleared at long last. Users of the platform can buy the game now, and for a 20% introductory discount (January 27th will be the last day for it)
You can check out the Steam page for the game here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2014220/Game_Cycle/
As a recently-contracted games analyst, you are tasked by the CEO of Best Value Games to make sure the games set to be included in their upcoming release are up to code. You can get the job done by playing each game for a few minutes, or you could be thorough and try for bonus pay by completing every objective on the checklist.
After your work for the day is done, you can go right to sleep and wait for tomorrow.
You did just move into this neighborhood, though.
Why not go down to the hot tub and chill out for a bit? Maybe get to know some of the people that live close by?
Are you up to the task?
◉ Re-discover the bygone era of shareware CD-ROMs!
◉ Play over TWENTY games! (of varying quality)
◉ Complete objectives for each game...or do the bare minimum!
◉ Chill out in a hot tub and have a moment to relax!
◉ Learn about your neighbors as they talk your ears off!
◉ There are multiple endings depending on what you do!
Missleman Spy Strike 2 turns 10!
This month marks a whole 10 YEARS since I made the game "Missleman Spy Strike 2" as a high schooler.
I've already came up with Missileman 4 years prior, and played with Game Maker a LOT from there. So why do I hold this specific game so near and dear to my heart?
It's a bit ironic; I originally made it as a "finale" for the Missileman series. I did everything I thought I wanted to do for the IP in this game. Since then, I "rebooted" the series through Missileman Origins in 2017, and recently did a holiday "bonus episode" of sorts
Even though I came up with Missileman as a kid, it always stuck with me. And there are ideas I could still explore. Of course, back then, I did this PLENTY by spitting out content only a kid with a computer could have. It would be rare for me to spend a week on one game or video
Eventually, after 2010 or so, there was a time where I felt like I was ready to do more than quick and hasty Game Maker sessions. I got the program because I wanted to make games. And while I was technically pumping out loads of games, that was me being a kid playing with a toy
In 2012, when I was looking at my next game, I realized it needed to be more than just that
I thought "Okay. I'm gonna make one last Missleman game. And I'm going to spend more than a week on this. Months, even. It'll be like a 'real' game."
I consider Missleman Spy Strike 2 to be that "transition" period between the playfully crude, slapdash era of my game-making and the succeeding era where I put genuine effort in creating a full-fledged gaming experience
There was still a lot of crude slapdash playfulness to the game. Even though I drew many sprites, I also grabbed all sorts of assets from the Internet and still used MIDIs of existing video game music. That's why I've never made a "deluxe" edition for Steam or the like
At the same time, I was legitimately beginning to think like a game designer. I made coherent connections between elements of the game, thinking about what kinds of scenarios would make for fun, interesting levels. It's not to say the execution holds up terribly well today. Far from it. But the combination of that playfulness and attempts to consciously feel out the game's design remains special to me. I'm not even sure I've hid so many Easter Eggs in a game since!
Spy Strike 2 took 6 months to make. When I finished it, I was starting 10th grade. Since then, I've been continuing to approach my game developments in ways that challenge my capabilities. 2014's Dynamite Alex would be the first time I felt like I made a game that holds its own as one. Of course, I'm not done exploring my possibilities
I'm still tinkerin' away at my craft, and I'll always be coming up with characters, stories, and levels for the public to chew on
If your computer can play old, dusty Game Maker 7 games and you want to play an old, dusty platform game, Missleman Spy Strike 2 is still available to download here:
As you know, the US government continues to fail its people. And once again, indie game developers have come together to form a HUGE bundle to combat their inactions and misuse of power.
From now until July 13th, with a minimum purchase of $10 USD, you can buy the Indie Bundle for Abortion Funds. It contains a whopping 792 titles - including my 2014 game, Dynamite Alex - contributed by over 600 creators in support of bodily autonomy!
All proceeds go to the National Network of Abortion Funds.
You can check it out here:
Pac-Man Adventures in Time interview!
Hi, everyone! Recently on @DailyPacMan, a Twitter account I run, I have curated a meaty interview with Pac-Man Adventures in Time developers Nolan Worthington and Matt Clark!
You should totally check out this Twitter thread here! The interview is filled with all sorts of neat details and fun facts about what is occasionally considered one of the "hidden gems" in the Pac-Man franchise.