Good News Everyone! “Unfinished” is Greenlit, Gets New Music, & Is Coming To ConBravo With “Arcane Bullshit”

A lot happened in the last week or so.

Firstly, it was Canada Day this week. Happy Canada Day. Today it is also the 4th of July. Happy America Day.

Secondly, my latest indie game “Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” has just been Greenlit on Steam! This is unusual: based on the data, games in general are easier to get passed on Greenlight since last year because older popular stand-outs are slowly being passed through, even-ing out the playing field a bit. The game was around 60% to the top, similar to my last game “Drew and the Floating Labyrinth” when it got greenlit. I can’t say my game is at all popular, the only big difference is that, overall, the game received more positive votes than negative compared to “Drew.” That alone seems to have helped me in getting passed. Which is strange, since I uploaded “Unfinished” long before the gameplay was finished enough to make sense, and despite this unclear design it seemed more universal. Further, no bundles were used to help get me ahead in votes, so if I’ve learned anything here, “up” votes are more important than I thought.

Greelight stats after passing to Steam for "Unfinished - An Artist's Lament"

Greelight stats after passing to Steam for “Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament”

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“Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” Could Use Your Help To Be Finished!

Stage Select Expo 2015 in Toronto this week was good fun, met some great people. It’s one of the only game-centric events in Ontario, it’s a shame it doesn’t get more support from local gamers and developers.

If you happened to see me at Stage Select, you’ll have heard my proposition, which I make open here. Give me an unfinished work of art, a drawing or sketch, and I will include it in the background environment of “Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament.” Additionally, as a thank you, I will add your name to the credits AND give you a free copy of the game as thanks.

“Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” is a small game about creativity, identity, purpose, and difficulties all artists face trying to finish a piece of work. You play Sketch, a unnamed doodle of a stick figure. Knowing you could be so much more and seeing the artist’s pencil continuing to draw in the distance, you follow after it, hoping to be finished one day to understand who you were meant to be. The game features a 2D hand-drawn character in 3D space, extending the use of “3D Cel Animation” as used “Drew and the Floating Labyrinth.”

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See “Unfinished” In Saturday, Toronto June 6!

It’s been too long since my last post.

If you were wondering how Toronto was a few weeks ago (my last post said I was in three places at once), it was… ok. TCAF was awesome, easily the best of the three. And I think I’ve learned my lesson about promising to be at three places at once. Of course, this is coming from a student who secured funds to book a table at PAX 2014.

Oh, I was also at Ottawa’s International Game Conference (http://oigconf.com) last week too. That was fun, and a useful pool of experts and hobbyists to talk with. I missed out on a chance to have a table there (it was explained at the conference that the organizer only began working a few weeks before the event, the organization should be much better next year), but it was nice to be on the other side for once. Although, I wondered if it was better to pay for a table at these types of events or just to wander and network with people for free. After this one example, paying for a booth/table it probably very worth while (I talked to a couple dozen people VS a table getting up to a hundred wanting to hear what you’ve brought). On the other hand, certain events are more fun to go to then to promote at. Anyway, I was in Ottawa, my Twitter feed is easier to update than my blog.

Next on my trip schedule: I’m showing off “Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” at Stage Select Gaming Expo on Saturday, June 6 in Toronto! See the website here for details: http://stageselect.ca/

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Dust Scratch Games Is Taking Over Toronto May 9 – 10!

I like going to events to promote my games. Or rather, not the games (which are questionable in quality), but the unique animation style that I want to see more of in other games. And so, it was announced weeks ago that Dust Scratch Games will be in Toronto Saturday May 9 and Sunday May 10 at:

… Yes, this means I will be in three places at once Saturday, May 9. For the record, I didn’t find out I was accepted to be at Bit Bazaar until two weeks ago, something must have went wrong with the contact information. Thankfully, I’ll have a little help from my friends, I’ll be showing up randomly at all of these places throughout Saturday, expect to see a “representative” at the tables if I am not there.

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Announcing My New Project: Unfinished

Sometime in January, I made a post that said…

 “I will have gameplay finished by April 2015, or so help me God I will shut down this site and my gamedev career forever!”

Well, April is almost over, and I’m announcing my next game project just in time. It feels appropriate that it happens to be “Unfinished.”

“Unfinished – An Artist’s Lament” is a hand-sketched 3D adventure game for Windows, Mac and Linux.  Control Sketch, an unfinished sketch wishing to know who it was supposed to be. The only clue is to follow a pencil that continues to draw in the distance, followed by an artist’s voice as he struggles to complete his work. To reach new areas, Sketch will find left-over drawings to use for new abilities throughout the journey. Featuring traditional animation in a 3D environment, a personal story, and an environment filled with scattered concept art by the developers from various projects. More information on http://unfinished.fromdustscratch.com .

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