#Google Indie Games Festival

[sonsofks]

¡Derrite tu Corazón en estas Fiestas! ¡Snowman Story de Odencat ya Disponible en Steam!

La Narrativa Clásica de Odencat Llega Sorprendentemente para las Vacaciones TOKIO, JAPÓN: 16 de diciembre de 2023 – El desarrollador indie japonés Odencat anunció hoy que la versión para Steam de su juego de aventuras narrativas de 2019, Snowman Story, ya está disponible. Esta querida historia del viaje de un muñeco de nieve para encontrar un paraíso ártico donde pueda estar a salvo de la…

[lgcmedia]

Kim Jinseo is an artist in latest Ash Island MV

On August 7, rapper Ash Island released a new single called “Play”. Produced by TOIL, this song is a collaboration project with Google Play Korea for the Google Play Indie Game Festival. 

The music video features not only Ash Island, who is preparing for a performance, but it also recognizes the hard work and depicts the behind the scenes struggles of artists, dancers, and web developers to arrive at the final output the world gets to see. The music video features special appearances by the HolyBang dance crew and model KIM JINSEO as the graffiti artist trying to finish his latest work. 

Check out the music video here. 

[ + / - ] jinseo has a tattoo??? i know it’s fake since he’s a model but it really suits him. please have one in the future 👀

[ + / - ] they could have gotten someone else. jinseo looks out of place in this video... idk if the issue lies in his hair or his face.

#LGCENT #KIMJINSEO

[8unnycup64min9]

Hi guys, this is my first game review of 8unnycup64min9,

Okay, finally! The game is now completely done. It's about time that game is moment you've waiting for.

Today we talk about this new mobile game the sequels of gogo Happy&Smile, based of the flash game of Newgrounds.

Now let's review of the NEW Happy&Smile mobile game,

Happy&Smile: Super Battles -TCG Deck Building Auto Battler Action Game-

(해피앤스마일: 슈퍼 배틀즈 -TCG 덱빌딩 오토 배틀러 액션 게임-)

"Happy&Smile: Super Battles" (previously title a.k.a. "Happy&Smile: City of Fighting") is a 2D TCG (trading card game) deck builder stradegy/top-down/side-scrolling/roguelike/beat 'em up arcade action game of next new Happy&Smile game, created by Korean indie game developer "Happy Rabbit Show".

Since begin in 2006, in Newgrounds, the flash game called "gogo Happy&Smile" is an 2D side-scroller flash game, which is inspirations of SNK's Metal Slug and The Behemoth's Alien Hominid (flash game version and console version).

As "Happy&Smile: City of Fighting", they been selected won of Open Play Day 2014, Tokyo Game Show 2015, Busan Indie Connect 2015, and more. And once finally retitle as "Happy&Smile: Super Battles", they been selected won of Google Play Indie Game Festival 2022 TOP 10, which is now available in Korea at Google Play was released on August for pre-registration game.

The iOS version is focusing to release too longer coming soon.

Happy&Smile: Super Battles is inspiration games of TGC games like Clash Royale, role-playing games like Kingdom Hearts: Union x (cross), side-scroller/beat 'em up arcade games like Double Dragon, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, Konami 80's and 90's games, Popslinger, and top-down/roguelike games such as Nuclear Throne, Enter the Gungeon, Blazing Beaks, Hotline Miami, etc..

In the game intro, the animation opening intro feels like 90's retro anime/Saturday morning cartoon shows. The animation retro-stylish like RDR (Ram Daram), PopSlinger (indie top-down shooting scrolling game), or any retro cartoons/ other indie games, until after the game starts.

Fight alongside your friends as you gradually build up your deck with cards and medals! An action arcade strategy game that combines an action arcade game and a card deck building auto battler system to build a deck with cards and medals.

The game featuring is a combination of an action arcade game and a card deck building auto battler system. - A very creative combination of side-scrolling action + TCG deck building + auto battler - It is easy to operate, and the side-scrolling action and TCG method are familiar to the public.

Various characters designed in "cartoon style" -Characters organized by type, implementing various abilities according to type

A game that combines card collection system and medal reward due to level up that stimulates "collection desire" - Composed of medals and card collection elements that children love - Can be linked with off-product smart toy products (NFC game medals)

Gameplay:

The gameplay of Super Battles is so very great and freshly for gesture game touchscreen like slide or swipe the screen and tapping the screen, and holding the mobile device like a game controller, it feels like a arcade. Except the block tap when the enemy will hit you before too late fast. The game features to draw a cards like Clash Royale and other card games and then attack vicious waves of enemies and bosses to increase more blue coins to level up and pick one skills and attacks medals, the MORE gets stronger to defeat all types of enemies.

Music and Sounds:

The music composed by MOTIFSOUND, the soundtracks are fascinating and feels very good jazzy, outstanding metal rock, and types of music. The game sound effects are very fun and enjoyable like retro 8-bit or 16-bit games and other sounds.

Graphics and Arts:

The game graphic sprites are SO VERY EXTREMELY EXCELLENT feels like gogo Happy&Smile flavors including bunch of characters and objects like cartoon styles and the animation intro like the 90's cartoon shows. The artworks are very massive cute and adorable (but even little bit violences) and the backgrounds are too awesome too.

Problems or not Problems:

The big problems are the bug fix including like gun shooting, player can't move while gun keeps shooting, no PvP, no events, how to block enemies, card gauge meter not been fulled, and anything of a lot of bugs to fixing too hard.

Okay, Happy&Smile: Super Battle is very good mobile game for me, not bad game (don't ask). Until the game is coming soon or next year for more to see. So I'm gonna giving 9 out of 10 of that game I never played.

Ratings:

9/10

★★★★★★★★★★

Download the app for FREE at Google Play (not any at countries, South Korea country only).

Or you can play the original browser game here as you can!

That's it for now. Stay tuned for more game reviews and see you bloody next year. ;)

Thank you indie game developer!

감사합니다..

Plus, here's the game trailer.

[owlzer]

Week 13 - Captain Sora's Sea Scurry Playtesting and Post Mortem

This week we ran our official playtests. I conducted a few of them instead of Kai as they were done during the playtesting party. I followed a script that we created as a team to conduct the playtests. However, I still took verbal notes from each play tester for each one as that was my assigned role since week 10. We collected data from a preliminary questionnaire as well as a post-play survey that we made beforehand using google forms. Each playtest ran smoothly and we were able to collect valuable data from five naïve participants for further analysis.

Throughout the entirety of this unit, Fullerton has provided me with valuable knowledge into the fundamentals of game making which is a part of design I have little experience in outside of my own personal endeavours. Fullerton describes the types of decision making that there are in games, sorting them into an easy to understand diagram:

They describe how finding the balance between allowing players to make decisions that players they find interesting and engaging while not interrupting the flow of the gameplay is important. Furthermore, any decision that have no real consequences, no real decision, or are arbitrary in choice are really good opportunities for redesign to improve your game.

They also talked about the stages of development, some of which I've had the opportunity of experiencing as I've designed and produced this game in a team.

They have designed the diagram in a 'v' to represent the beginning of the project being the open, changeable and has the least financial consequence. Throughout this process I have been able to experience the concept phase all the way to a smaller scale of the QA phase within the scope of the unit. This has definitely been a very valuable learning experience for me being able to experience many stages of development within a short amount of time. It has definitely been an eye-opener to the scale, time and resources that it takes to create a successful game and I intend to take this experience with me as I pursue game design as a career.

Fullerton discusses how to get a career in game design in chapter 16. She talks about how a more well-rounded program will be more beneficial to prepare you for a career rather than one that focuses solely on one part of design. Furthermore, she gives other helpful tips. These include how companies are more likely to hire designers that have technical skills such as programming in industry standards such as C#, a language I plan to self-study over the next six months. She also mentions learning game engines and programs such as Unity and Adobe Photoshop. As I wish to one day become an independent developer, she suggests gaining notice through participation in festivals for indie games.

It has been a pleasure to work with my teammates Kai and Conner throughout the development of Captain Sora's Sea Scurry. It has been a very exciting opportunity to see one of my own original games being developed in a proper team. This game has really challenged me in the role as both artist and producer as I really had to communicate my vision to the team. I also had the challenge of being the only artist of a project which I have not experienced in other units of my study. It challenged both my artistic ability as well as my time management and I am keen to challenge myself again with this role in further development projects. I am very pleased with the outcome of the game as we have expanded on this game beyond my original vision in my one page and one sheet. However, through the analysis of our playtesting we have found many things that we would need to improve upon if this team were to take it further such as important bug fixes, control changes and visual and UI additions. I would like to thank everyone that has been a play tester in all of my projects as well as the teaching team. This has been a very fulfilling and important experience in my journey as a game designer.

References:

Fullerton, T. (2018). Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating

Innovative Games. ProQuest Ebook. Retrieved

from:  https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/qut/reader.action?docID=5477698

[ecsundance]

What is Independent Cinema?

When you google the definition of Independent Cinema also known as Indie Cinema, the first definition you see reads, “an independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies” (Wikipedia). This definition gives us a broad idea of what Indie Cinema is, however, aside from the fact that these films are produced outside the major film studio system, the above definition provides little information about what specifically makes an Indie film stand out from other films. Through films such as Stranger Than Paradise (1984), Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989), and Summer of Soul (2021), and the definitions provided by the book we read “Indie: An American Film Culture” by Michael Newman, I am going to show you what it means for a film to be considered, “Indie.”

The first definition of Newman’s book provides insight into the characters of Indie Cinema, saying, “characters are emblems” (Newman 29). Using characters as emblems allows the audience to obtain a degree of awareness through differently represented situations, and people in a film. This element of Indie Cinema is prominent in Sex, Lies and Videotape by Steven Soderbergh. Ann (Andie MacDowell) transitions from being a housewife to John (Peter Gallagher), an upper-class lawyer who would cheat on Ann regularly, to being a lover to Graham (James Spader), a lower-class filmmaker who struggled with making ends meet. The overall emblem between these characters was reflecting the treatment and behaviors of social classes within the United States.

The second definition within the book involves the overall structure of a film, insighting that “form is a game” (Newman 29). Unlike many mainstream films, which tend to start with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution, and focus on continuity editing, Indie films do not follow this pattern. An example of form being played with is in Summer of Soul by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. When a subject of an interview would reflect on a certain event related to the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement, such as the death of Martin Luther King, the footage of the festival would be cut with archival footage relating to MLK’s death alongside the tempo of the background music. It was almost as if the cuts were being formatted similar to an instrument solo in order to immerse the audience’s experience of the film.

The third and final definition in Newman’s book may seem to be for the readers who struggle with remembering the above two definitions by claiming,“when in doubt, read as anti-Hollywood” (Newman 29). However, Newman essentially implies that Indie Film pushes the boundaries of not only characters and form, but the overall brain power it requires the audience to use in order to understand a film. When you take a film franchise like Avengers, you may notice that you are able to watch and understand these films without a significant amount of thought going into other messages behind the film. That is because these films tend to focus on the overall story rather than having certain character traits and themes connected to the film’s cinematic structure play an active role in the overall story. An example of anti-Hollywood is Stranger Than Paradise by Jim Jarmusch, a film that is said to not be categorized with any particular genre. Unlike the traditional Hollywood film form, this film does not follow a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution type form. Instead we are left with a lengthy journey that follows Willie (John Lurie), Eddie (Richard Edson), and Eva (Eszter Balint) to a beach in Florida to find fortune and paradise. However, the film cuts to black in between every scene with the audio of the upcoming shot fading in. This tactic of playing with form allows the audience to imagine what occurs during these transitions as the sequences jump days, months, even years.

After learning that characters are emblems, form is a game, and the overall theme of being anti-Hollywood, Indie Cinema brings a unique experience to mainstream audiences. Although it requires more thought to understand an Indie film, the themes often criticize current events, which make the films feel relatable.

Thank you so much for reading!

-Jackson Willhoit

[linuxgamenews]

What's So Special About Snowman Story? An Award-Winning Adventure

Snowman Story launches into a warm winter RPG adventure game for Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the incredibly talented team at Odencat for releasing this unique and captivating experience. Available on Steam with a discount. Something unique is here, just in time for Christmas. There's a Japanese indie creation Snowman Story that's now out on Steam. This isn't just any ordinary adventure; it won an award at the Google Indie Games Festival in 2020. So you know it's got some serious charm. Players take on the role of a snowman named Chris. Your mission? To find a magical place up north where snowmen can chill out without worrying about melting when spring shows up. Due to be a snowman's dream vacation spot. As you journey through Snowman Story, you're not alone. You'll meet friendly animals in the forest who'll help you solve icy puzzles and guide you on your path. The twist here is pretty emotional. As you travel, you'll come across other snowmen who didn't make it. They've got their own sad stories about trying to reach this paradise. By learning from their mistakes, Chris might just find a way to succeed where they couldn't.

Snowman Story Trailer

Now, the Steam version of Snowman Story brings some unique aspects that the original mobile version didn't have. First up, you can play it with a controller and in landscape mode. So you can see the world in more detail, perfect for a Linux or Steam Deck setup. Plus, every character now has their own voice effects. Due to add a layer of depth to the storytelling. Another big win is the improved English translation. It keeps the heart and humor of the original script, making the whole title more fun and touching. So, for one week from its release, Snowman Story is 20% off on Steam. It's a combination of the original content and all the extra stuff added for the mobile version. Basically, it's the perfect warm winter RPG adventure to cozy up with during the holiday season. Whether you're a seasoned player or just looking for something fun and heartwarming, Snowman Story is worth checking out. It's not just a game; it's an adventure that combines puzzle solving, storytelling, and emotional depth in a world where every snowman dreams of escaping the inevitable thaw. All priced at $3.99 USD / £3.43 / 3,99€. Plus, support for Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC.

[puddingmilkt]

[歌詞翻譯] Leellamarz - Freedom (feat DUT2) (Prod by WayChed)

☆ google play 22 indie game festival project ‪♡ ‬ release date: 22.07.22 ‪♡ ‬ from: freedom (single)

"習慣了越級 習慣與年長兩三歲的哥哥姐姐們競爭... 我的人生 永無止境的被比較被挑選 狹縫中 我唯有變得強大 但it aint no hustle" "瞬息萬變的世代 我要留���長存人心的歌曲"

(Leellamarz)

When I was 19 陪我從一山走到瑞草的violin

江邊北路上 slidin 但我只覺孤獨

Thats life吧 為上而上的college 習慣了越級

習慣與年長兩三歲的哥哥姐姐們競爭 that was fact

我的人生 永無止境的被比較 被挑選

狹縫中 我唯有變得強大 但it aint no hustle

來 為我們的過去乾杯 lets play 我仍是為了我的自由而戰

希望自己脫穎而出 因此無所畏懼 就算雙腿垮掉 我也未曾停步

連性命也賭上 我僅有這點天賦 but 單憑才能不夠 get it

失敗之類的記憶 forget it

對於滿懷夢想的我 生活太過冷酷無情

(Dut2)

昨日記憶 已成往事 不相為謀的 我們擦肩而過

馬不停蹄 我要全力奔跑 打通我自己的光明大道

Freedom aint free 遙遙長路 奔跑著走過

Freedom aint free 雖然沒人能定義自由

Freedom aint free 我把我想說的 放到16節拍上

Now 成了一首帥氣的歌曲 成為帥氣的傢伙 oh-oh oh-oh-oh

(Leellamarz)

Man, I was nothin

在Namchin發行之前 nobody knows me

不過是個對世界不滿 煩惱很多的小不點

but I changed it with 聰明的頭腦

他們老是說展示出你所學到的來證明

那種不負責任的說法 我不聽

我說來讓他們學會眼見為證

但願你能理解 "its your success" 這句話

"Freedom aint free" 我朋友 J told me that

因此作好打算 為未來奔跑 dont trip man

瞬息萬變的世代 我要留下長存人心的歌曲

為在五線譜上更加自由 今天也在工作室努力

我期盼快將登場的下一代 對於滿懷夢想的他們 這個世界太過冷酷

(Dut2)

昨日記憶 已成往事 不相為謀的 我們擦肩而過

馬不停蹄 我要全力奔跑 打通我自己的光明大道

Freedom aint free 遙遙長路 奔跑著走過

Freedom aint free 雖然沒人能定義自由

Freedom aint free 我把我想說的 放到16節拍上

Now 成了一首帥氣的歌曲 成為帥氣的傢伙 oh-oh oh-oh-oh

就算高牆攔路 阻礙前進 也必須戰勝 必須翻越過 yeah

衝出那片天空 你將比任何人也自由 yeah

[lgcpoints]

KIM JINSEO ∙ MAY NOTORIETY ACTIVITIES

KIM JINSEO ∙  NOTORIETY ACTIVITIES

CURRENT NOTORIETY TIER: six

CLAIM(S): two medium level activities, two low level activities

LOW ACTIVITY #1: supporting role in a low-rated (≤ 5% average rating) weekly drama (Go Jasung in 18 Again): +2 acting, +1 notoriety

LOW ACTIVITY #2: Feature in a spread for a magazine [Arena Homme Plus]: +2 modeling, +1 notoriety

MEDIUM ACTIVITY #1: Appear in an non-idol MV (Play by Ash Island [for Google Indie Game Festival]): +4 acting, +2 notoriety

MEDIUM ACTIVITY #2: Appear in a one-off international commercial [Nongshim Saewookkang]: +4 modeling, +2 notoriety

✔︎ ACCEPTED

[tranquildr3ams]

What's Up 2020: Week 14

What's Up 2020: Week 14 #Currently #Reading #Watching #Playing #Binging #Books #Movies #VideoGames #TV #WeeklyRecap

Another week has passed by as we jump into week 14 of 2020! The rhythm of working from home and balancing out the to-do list for blog and home stuff is definitely setting itself into place. Everything here is finally more balanced now.

READING

Blackthorn by Terry Tyler (Review)

Currently reading: Highland Cove

Back on track with reading (kind of) as I finally finish up Blackthorn! Its not a…

[yurimother]

Yuri Visual Novel 'Perfect Gold' Ported to Switch and Mobile Devices

Yangyang mobile announced on June 16 that its Yuri visual novel Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness is now available for Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS devices. The game was initially released for PC in April 2021.

The developer describes the game:

Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness is a short, coming-of-age yuri visual novel about two former friends who escape detention in order to celebrate the Sunflower Festival. Set in the magical city of Castlecoast, readers get to know Audrey Clary, an alchemy student and heiress who secretly dreams of a different life, and Marion LaRue, a rebellious elemental magic student in search of someone she once loved.

The game is approximately 2-5 hours in length. Players take on the roles of Audrey and Marion at different points of the story, seeing events from different perspectives. It also features an original soundtrack and vibrant animated CG and character artwork done by RyuuXin. Interactive narrative choices affect the game's ending.

Yangyang Mobile has teamed up with Sound Cadence Studios to voice the game in English fully. The cast is as follows:

Dani Chambers - Marion Larue

Eileen Montgomery - Audrey Clary

Elsie Lovelock - Irene Kang

Karen Kahler - Margot Beaufort

Sandra Espinoza - Simone Larue

Yangyang Mobile is a Philippines-based indie game development company specializing in story-driven games.

You can purchase Perfect Gold today on the Nintendo eShop in the Americas, Europe, and Hong Kong for $7.99 and on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store worldwide for $4.99.

You can also check out the original PC release on Steam and itch.io.

Source: Press release; email correspondence

[weelectronicstudentreviewstuff]

Google Play 2020 Indie Games Festival: 9 winning Android apps announced | Technology News

Google Play 2020 Indie Games Festival: 9 winning Android apps announced | Technology News

New Delhi: Technology gaint Google had announced the Google Play’s Indie Games Festival for European, Japanese, and South Korean developers in the begining of this year, the results of which has been announced now.

“We received hundreds of submissions for the three competitions in Europe, Japan and South Korea. This year’s winning games have something for everyone, from a food-themed puzzle game…

[wigc]

Let's Hear it for Europe, Japan, South Korea's Finest Mobile Game Devs With the 'Google Play Indie Games Festival' Finalists

Mobile indie games really don't get a chance to shine very often, and yes, I know: that is partially my fault too for not giving them more coverage. Hopefully, this here article will make up for that, if only in some small way, focused entirely on this year's Google Play Indie Games Festival finalists!

Continue reading

[new-sandrafilter]

How Timothée Chalamet Channeled The Blockbuster Pressure of Leading Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ Back Into His Role – Venice Q&A

DEADLINE: In a few days Dune will premiere at the Venice Film Festival. You first met Denis Villeneuve about the role in May 2018 and started shooting in the early half of 2019. It was always going to be a long journey, but the pandemic stretched it even further. How does it feel to have finally arrived at this moment?

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET: You know, I like to think that with every film I’ve done, whether it’s Call Me by Your Name or Beautiful Boy, The King, or Little Women, the character you play is almost a piece of your flesh. And that’s always true, but simply from the perspective of how long the shoot for Dune was, and also the arc that Paul Atreides is on, as well as the huge love and almost biblical connection that so many people have for the book and the original film, it really felt… tectonic, if that’s the right word for it. Just getting to this finish line feels like: phew.

And independent of what the film is now, and what it has become, the experience of making it was I was put in such a safe environment, which you can never take for granted as a human, as an actor, but especially when you’re just starting your career, and when this is the first film of this size you’ve ever done.

To get to work with Denis on it, to get to work with someone of his caliber, let alone on a book that he considers the book of his youth and one of the things he has connected to the most… When he would have it in his hands on set, his body language would become that of a fan; of a kid who had fallen in love with the book at home in Montreal. And when all the kids around him were wearing hockey jerseys with their favorite players’ names on the back, this was a kid wearing a jersey that said ‘Spielberg’ on the back.

For it all to come together, especially with the added challenge of the pandemic, it has all combined to make this moment feel especially spicy [laughs].

DEADLINE: The entire ensemble will show up in Venice.

CHALAMET: Right. And I just can’t believe it; Jason Momoa has the number one film on Netflix right now with Sweet Girl, which I just watched. And since we shot, Zendaya has had all this success with Euphoria and Malcolm & Marie. Just to be part of this cast, period, let alone as one of the title characters, it’s really the shit you dream of.

And let me not forget, too—and I know I’ve told you this before—that The Dark Knight was the movie that made me want to act. That movie had a score by Hans Zimmer, and he has done the score for Dune. And it’s almost not what you’d think. It’s totally appropriate and excellent for the movie, but he has somehow managed to do something subversive, in my opinion. It’s a pinch-me moment all over.

DEADLINE: So, take me back to the start. Is it true you had a Google alert set up to track the latest news on this project before you were ever cast?

CHALAMET: Yeah, it’s true [laughs]. Not right away—Legendary had the rights and was developing it—but as soon as Denis got involved, I set up a Google alert and that’s when I got the book.

In total honesty, I think my understanding of Dune at that point was from a graphic novel I’d seen at Midtown Comics when I was shopping for Yu-Gi-Oh! cards when I was about 10. The year you and I first met, when I was there at Deadline Contenders with Call Me by Your Name, that would have been 2017 or early 2018, and Denis was there with Blade Runner. I remember I was trying to put myself in front of him as much as possible and set up a meeting with him. We had a night at the BAFTA where one of my good friends, Stéphane Bak—who’s also an actor—saw Denis across the room and was like, “Hey buddy, he’s right over there.” So, we went over to talk to him. I kept trying to put myself in front of him, but I didn’t really get a sense of the possibility [of working with him].

I was about halfway through the book when I got the call that he was going to be the president of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival, and I was in London prepping The King. He asked me if I could come out there, so I quickly busted through the second half of the book as best I could. So, like, the first half of my copy is properly annotated and full of my thoughts, and then the second half I just raced through. And then I had that meeting with him, and it was such a joy.

I’m struggling with this even now, as I’m working with Paul King [on Wonka], because he’s another guy I have huge respect and admiration for, and it’s hard to feel on a level. Not that you ever are, because as an actor you’re a cog in the machine, and you’ve got to be humble to the vision of the director. But with Denis, he was pacing around the room, throwing ideas around, in some fancy suite in Cannes, and all I could think was that a year before I was just sat on a stoop on 9th Street in the East Village or something.

DEADLINE: Was that your first time in Cannes?

CHALAMET: Yeah. Well, bizarrely, my sister would do dance camps growing up. Ballet intensive programs in a town called Mougins, which is nearby Cannes, so I spent a lot of time there growing up, but never during the festival, and not on the Riviera. To get to be there for the festival was just nuts. I went to see the Romain Gavras movie, I think, and it was just a huge joy.

I got attached [to the role in Dune] a couple of months after that, and it was nerve-wracking from the announcement, because like I said before, the fans of the book, and the fans of David Lynch version, the computer game, and everything, there’s so much love and strength of feeling. And so much of our pop culture and films and books have been derived from Dune, and all the philosophy the book. I’ve been shocked to learn how many people have a next-level connection to the book. I compare it to how our generation grew up with Harry Potter, and that one makes sense to me. But it’s cool to see with Dune also, when you actually sit down and read it… It’s not that it’s a quote-unquote “hard read” or anything, but it’s not made to be consumed easily, I think that’s fair to say.

So, I was grateful to be working on something of this size not only with Denis Villeneuve leading it, who between Polytechnique, Incendies and Prisoners had nailed the smaller indie film across languages, and then had nailed Arrival and Blade Runner, but who, in his own words, he didn’t feel he’d made his greatest film yet. But also, to be working with this cast. I don’t know if there’s some nightmare version of a film where a young lead is not supported by the rest of his cast, where every one of them had been the leads in their own huge projects. But on this, everyone was there to support, and I think it’s because we all wanted to be foot soldiers for Denis, and I think we understood the potential, based on the script by Eric Roth, Jon Spaihts and Denis, that this could be something really special.

DEADLINE: I don’t have a connection to Dune; this movie is really my first experience of the story. What strikes me is this is clearly an enormous universe—a broad canvas being painted with various families and factions and politics and mythos—but that ultimately it comes down to very elemental, human themes, and we feel them through this character you play, Paul Atreides. Did those themes help ground the experience for you?

CHALAMET: Yes, and I would give the credit entirely to Denis. He would constantly say on set that he had some opposing drumbeat or something. In my diminished intellectual standing, I didn’t understand it, but it was like some vision for the movie based on how biblical the book is that tries to tackle so much that it doesn’t tackle anything. I think he felt the need to be close to a character in it, and Paul is that guy in the book. He’s a character that is still in formation, like a lump of clay, which makes him a great figure for the audience to mirror off.

It speaks, I think, to Denis’ premonition and his directing ability that there were times when we’d move on from a shot or move on from a scene, and I swear, literally, we’d go back because Denis wanted to get something over my shoulder, or push in on my reaction, just to make sure [it stayed on Paul].

And again, it’s something where I’m pinching myself. I had the best time on Interstellar, and that was one of my favorite films I’ve ever worked on, but it was very much something where I was aware of when I had the opportunity to do real acting. And on a movie like Dune, again, one could think it would get lost in the scale and scope. But I felt every day like my plate was full.

DEADLINE: One of those themes is fear, and Paul must overcome his to become the person he needs to be. When you are number one on the call sheet on a project of this scale, and the cast list reads like an address book of Hollywood in the 21st century, and Legendary has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into this production, and it’s all falling on your shoulders, I have to imagine fear is a theme you can readily relate to.

CHALAMET: Oh yeah, and they can bleed into each other for sure—not to diminish the other work that goes in. It’s great when your life experience can inform the role. That’s not at all to say I’m on some crusade in the universe or anything, but definitely… And I had that same good fortune with The King I think. My life is not nearly as significant or as exciting as Paul or Prince Hal, but we all share an unwitting needle in the haystack feeling. On The King that feeling was because I was so new to having a career. On Dune it’s because of, as you say, just feeling the pressure of the hugeness of the project in all those different ways. Those things can absolutely inform each other.

And then there are the moments of glee that come, too, like seeing Jason Momoa running at you at a hundred miles an hour, or just getting to shoot the shit with Josh Brolin, or getting to do a scene with Oscar Isaac. I felt so supported, whether it was Rebecca Fergusson or Charlotte Rampling. When Zendaya came, it was a total breath of fresh air, and she’s one of my favorite parts of the movie. I just got really lucky, and I can’t wait to see them all in Venice.

Denis split the book in half, and the hope is a second movie will get a greenlight. That’d expand Zendaya’s role in the story.

CHALAMET: Definitely, Chani will play a huge role in the next film. I don’t know if there’s a script yet, but just based on the book, along with Lady Jessica [Rebecca Fergusson], they have a lot to do together, let’s put it like that. And Zendaya was incredible in this movie; the moment she pulls the mask down, it felt properly showstopping and powerful. I was hiding behind the camera, counting my lucky starts, because I was there in month two of the shoot and here was a total powerhouse just coming in for the first time.

And as I said before, this was before I’d seen Euphoria and Malcolm & Marie. She’s doing such incredible work and is just trailblazing her own path, and she’s so, so cool. She also happens to be in the most-watched trailer of the moment, too, for Spider-Man: No Way Home. I cannot wait for that movie, and I was there, by the way, with everybody else, clicking through the trailer frame by frame looking for clues [laughs].

[acommonloon]

I clearly remember my first Cinco de Mayo, doesn't everyone? Okay "clearly" isn't the right word. I have a partial memory in which D's boss Linda, was so excited for us to attend the festival along the Concho River running through San Angelo. We had no idea what it was about but we were game. Aside from Mexican music, 100degs in the shade, and the river bank, it was pretty much like every small town fair with food booths, games of chance, and even a few carny rides.

This would be 35+ years ago. Linda was an organizer for the event and also D's boss at the K-Mart Pharmacy where D was a Pharmacy Tech. Later D would be hired away from Linda by Linda's husband Bob who ran the Pharmacy at a local hospital. Bob and Linda bought a hundred acres of west Texas scrub down by Eldorado. There was something so...unruly about Texas back then.

It felt kind of dangerous. I don't mean the people, they were the friendliest folks I've ever met, to this day, but get out of town and off the road, and things could go sideways. There were no cell phones.

I remember we visited Bob and Linda right after their home was finished. It was a manufactured home and I could hardly believe it! Two pharmacists could surely do better. TBH it was the nicest one I'd ever seen (still). They said they didn't want to wait to build. Bob warned us the land wasn't tamed in any way. There are rattle snakes, scorpions, and tarantulas. For God's sake if you see a dead armadillo, don't touch it. They carry leprosy. WTF? Why would we touch it???

D at her K-mart pharmacy gig. She was hot! No I mean it. If she wasn't in an air conditioned space she was hot and she would let you know it. She is not the fan of Texas I am.

In this pic (above) at the Eldorado ranch, D is petting their dog and I'm being chased by one of our two dogs. We named them Indy & Anna. You know Indiana. If you just threw up a little that's normal. Anna was a cocker spaniel. I appear to be wearing a leather jacket so it must be late in the year. It gets cold in Texas.

This was outside our Hay Stack apartment unit. I said, "Hey look, a horny toad!" She replied, "Nuh uh!" D was the valedictorian of our high school but she wasn't well read on the diversity of life. She thought a road runner only existed in cartoons. For years she relied on me for all the answers. <sigh> now google has all the answers.

[linuxgamenews]

Bear's Restaurant due to release with new epilogue chapter

Bear's Restaurant the heartwarming adventure game is due to release soon on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative efforts of Japanese indie developer Odencat Inc. Now announcing the debut will take place on Steam. The award winning breakout adventure game, Bear's Restaurant, will be coming to Steam this September. This news comes just two months after an enhanced home console version of the hit mobile game was released for Nintendo Switch™ in June. The developer confirms that the Steam version will include all of the added features. Also including all of the content from the Switch release. This means widescreen display, full gamepad support, with an all new epilogue chapter. This will also expand upon the heartwarming adventure game’s lovable world and characters. Featuring vibrant pixel art and a lilting melodic score. Bear’s Restaurant is a game that evokes deep nostalgia. Not just in its delivery, but in its core themes and mechanics. As a waiter at the titular restaurant, players will be diving into the memories of the newly deceased. Doing so in order to find out what their favorite foods are. Then learn the sentimental significance they had in their lives. Players will meet a wide variety of lost souls on their way to the afterlife. They will also get to witness firsthand how each one lived and died before delivering the last supper. Since this will help them rest in peace.

Bear's Restaurant - Steam Trailer (Linux, Mac, Windows PC)

While the game bears a strong kinship to the 16-bit RPGs of yesteryear. The developer notes in the game’s description that it features no battle system. So there are no puzzles and no pre-rendered cutscenes. Instead, Bear’s Restaurant sells itself as a short, heartwarming experience that tells a powerful story through simple vignettes that players from all walks of life can relate to, and an experience they’ll remember and cherish for years to come. And by all accounts, Bear’s Restaurant has certainly touched the hearts of countless players. Already doing so across the globe in the two years since its initial release. With over one million downloads worldwide. The mobile version of Bear’s Restaurant was a Top 3 nominee and prizewinner at the 2019 Google Indie Games Festival in Tokyo. IGN Korea gave the Switch version an 8.5, calling it “a game that makes you ponder the little things that make our lives worth living.” Japan’s Weekly Famitsu magazine gave it an average score of 8/10 in their Cross Review. With one reviewer noting that “What it lacks in runtime it makes up for in emotional punch.” Calling it an experience “that will stick with you long after the credits roll.” With this new Bear’s Restaurant Steam release only weeks away. Therefore it won’t be long before a whole new audience will be able to jump in. Taking on this heartwarming adventure tale of love, loss, and fine dining for themselves. No specific release date or price point has been announced at this time. But these details are sure to be revealed in the near future. In the meantime, be sure to check out the game’s store page. Add it to your Steam Wishlist if you want to be among the first to be notified. So you can take on this charming little adventure game on Linux. Or on Mac or Windows PC if you choose.

[queensheva]

Google Play Indie Games Festival Returns to SF this September

After a strong first showcase last year, Google Play’s Indie Games Festival is returning to San Francisco this September with the promise of new talent and exciting new prospects. Last year, the festival brought together indie developers from all over both the US and Canada, and highlighted some of the most noteworthy games being created by independent developers.

This year promises to be even better. Googly Play is once again on the search for innovative, creative passion projects and fun new games to include in their upcoming festival, scheduled for this September. Competitors will be invited to demo their game in front of a packed venue of games journalists, industry buffs, and fellow indies.

And if that opportunity weren’t tempting enough, the festival offers developers a shot at a prize far more valuable than money: free marketing. When I asked indie developers at last year’s showcase about their greatest obstacles, many agreed that marketing was a huge challenge. With no dedicated team or funds to advertise their products, many indies create incredible games only to struggle to ever get noticed.

So, it’s no accident that Google Play is offering its Top 10 finalists a major marketing bump: inclusion in a dedicated Indie Corner collection for one month; promotion of your game on other Google Play channels; and promotion of your game on Android and Google Play developer channels. And those who make it all the way to the Top 3 get extra goodies, like two all-access passes to GDC 2018, and $20,000 worth of Google Cloud credit.

Submissions opened this morning, and will remain open until August 6. Developers based in the US or Canada can submit your game here. And, with any luck, I’ll soon be seeing you at Google Play’s Indie Games Festival in September. I can’t wait to see what you’ve made -- and neither can the rest of the world.