E3 2010: Indie Spotlight

I briefly had the opportunity to play three indie games at E3 and came away impressed, and a bit sad that I was not able to experience the other ones that were on display!

First up, a game that is a bit hard to describe: Maum, developed by Taiyoung Ryu from USC in Los Angeles. Basically, you control this game using a combination of a Wii remote and a sensor that attaches to your head and monitors your brainwave patterns! More a collection of fear-based mini-games than one full game, the first part requires you to stroll down a corridor using your Wii remote to move and your own brain’s focus to control your flashlight, allowing you to see in the dark hallway filled with odd statues and frightening images flashing on the screen! The second part I played had you walking down a street, using the Wii remote to avoid pumpkin-headed people who were trying to wander into your path. Using your brain’s ability to focus, you could turn some of the enemies into normal looking people that would heal you, as opposed to taking away your health. Although the demo stopped here, I was told that the finished game will feature 5+ different mini-games, all of which utilize the Wii remote and brainwave monitor. Platforms and release date are not finalized yet.

The second game I played is called B.U.T.T.O.N. and is being developed by Copenhagen Game Collective, which operates out of Denmark. Initially, the game experienced some technical issues, but after they were resolved, I got to play this wild party game that basically changes the rules each time you play. The basic setup requires four players to follow on-screen instructions and initially you will be told to put the controllers down. After that, you may be required to walk back several steps and do something silly like recite the alphabet backwards. Then all hell breaks lose when the screen counts down from 3 and prompts players to do something like be the last person to press their A button, causing players to frantically press each other’s buttons while protecting their own! Having played this demo several times, I found myself laughing hysterically each time as something bizarre or amusing would happen due to the chaos this game inherently causes! No release date or platforms have been announced yet.

The last game I had a chance to play was Miegakure, developed by Marc ten Bosh from New York City. In this game, you control a fellow from an isometric top-down perspective in a huge, sprawling Japanese garden. Ultimately, the hook of this game comes from the player’s ability to manipulate the 4th dimension in order to solve puzzles and move about the gameworld. Although basically a simple platformer, the puzzle elements are palpable and require players to frequently make use of the 4th dimension as a means of travel in order to navigate the series of different gardens you find yourself in. No release date or platforms have been announced yet.

I felt that all of the independent games I played had merit and only wish that I had the time to play all of the games that were on display. Hopefully AGB will have more Indie Spotlight features in the future!