Humble Bundle 8

The Humble Bundle 8 is live!  As of Friday afternoon, for $6 you can net 7 well-received indie games, 6 soundtracks, and Steam Keys for all 7 games!  The games bundled this time are Hotline Miami, Proteus, Little Inferno, Awesomenauts, Capsized, Thomas Was Alone, and Dear Esther.  If any of these games make your insides tingle, speak up, buy the bundle, and I'll be sure to cement part of your purchase into the club's schedule of upcoming games!

Cheers,

Danny

Just a thought

For future games to play I recommend we play anything from Game Jolt. All the games are indie and free to play. Just saying.

Marcus AKA Tuxcedo Ninja's Game Proposals

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a visual upgrade to a classic shooter. For the most part it is just like Counter-Strike: Source but may be a bit easier to play for newer players. I is a game that one must play at least once.

DLC Quest is a little game show how ridiculous the game industry has gone when it it comes to downloadable content. The best part of this game that it is like $2 so its worth a try.

Planetside 2 is a free to play, open world, always changing, first person shooter. It is a pretty fun game but easier to play when one is part of a platoon that communicates.

Jim's Proposed Games

Dwarf Fortress
Infamous for its ASCII art style and steep learning curve, Dwarf Fortress is the inspiration for countless games and game systems. It is one of the few games deemed worthy to be collected in the Museum of Modern Art. In addition, the donation-driven development and long-term vision of the game is bold and exciting. Let us bloody our hammers for the glory of Armok, together.

Crusader Kings II
Crusader Kings II is the latest, and most accessible, release in Paradox Interactive's brand of grand historical strategy games. If you're intrigued by the political intrigue and style of war portrayed in a Game of Thrones, you should find interesting the stories you make up yourself as you play this game.

Cart Life
The only one of my suggestions that I haven't already played. This grey-scale, pixel art game was made by a first-time developer, and won several awards, including "Excellence in Narrative," at the 2013 Indie Games Festival.

Sim City
The SimCity franchise is a cornerstone of video game history, but the newest installment was highly controversial for its always-on DRM and complete re-imagining of the game engine. Despite reddit drama, the game is not completely void of value, discussion would prove interesting, however, it is on the pricey side and if you guys haven't already purchased it I would withdraw this suggestion.

Retro City Rampage
I'm a sucker for nostalgia, and I heard this game mashes up a bunch of my old favorites from the Nintendo days into an open world action game.

 ---

In agreement with other proposals by Omaha Game Club members, I second the following already proposed games: 

 

Resonance - It was made by a guy from Omaha, which is as good a reason as any for us to play it!

Don't Starve - The creepy, gothic art style perfectly complements the challenge of trying to stay alive in an unforgiving world.

Frozen Synapse - Wasn't even on my radar until I read Danny's description. The video I watched kind of reminded me of XCOM, which I loved. I'm totally psyched to try this.

Mark of the Ninja - I've heard great things about how this game brings stealth gameplay to the next level. Plus, I already own it but haven't played it yet.

Amnesia - I played about an hour of it a year ago or more and it was spooky. I've been meaning to play more, in a properly dark room at night with headphones, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Cthulu Saves the World - I bought this a long time ago and never played it. This would be a good enough reason for me.

Sid Meier's Civilization V - I haven't played it since the latest DLC launched, which supposedly brings more action to the end-game, where the Civ series needs it the most.

---

In addition to the above, I conditionally suggest these games that are currently in development in case they release a full version or working beta during the scope of this blog's life.

 

Starbound - Looks similar to Terraria, which I'll have more of, please.

Banished - A city-building strategy game with some elements reminiscent of Dwarf Fortress.

Planetary Annihilation - This is a genre I've always dabbled in, but never been particularly good at. The scale and graphics of this game intrigue me, though.

Legend of Dungeon - Yet another rogue-like dungeon crawler. This one's dynamic shading combined with pixel art make it stand out to me, though. 

Under the Ocean - A side-scrolling, craft-to-survive game à la Terreria and Don't Starve. A type of game I seem to be entranced with.

Castle Story - A dwarflike with cutesy graphics I've had my eye on for a while.

Kerbel Space Program - Unleash your inner rocket scientist. It's more of a sandbox than a game, as the mission/reward elements have yet to be added to its current alpha state. Upon release I think this game should be part of high-school curriculums every where.

Prison Architect - Once I bought a game at WalMart for five bucks called Prison Tycoon 2. It was the worst game I've ever played, but it goes to show that I've wanted to run a prison for some time.

Taylor's Proposed Games

Monaco: What's Yours in Mine.

This game is a long time coming and it looks crazy.  It's a top down stealth/heist game, but the twist is that your character can only see what is in his line of sight, all else is only the blueprints of the floor you're currently on.  It's also a four player cooperative game, so members of this club could play together.  It's on Steam.  

Don't Starve

Don't Starve looks like an interesting take on the Minecraft formula. Instead of being able to dig and mine, the emphasis seems to be creating cool contraptions and interacting with the weird creatures of the world.  I could see myself spending just as much time on its crafting wiki as I would be in game.  That seems like a fun time to me. It's available on Steam.

Mark of the Ninja

I love me some stealth games, but I never got around to play this.  It's a 2D stealth game that I've heard great things about.  It's available on Steam.

Resonance

I love adventure games, and I've heard good things about this retro looking point and click. Also, it's made by a single guy in Omaha and I love supporting local talent.  It's available on Steam.

Machinarium

Did I mention I love adventure games? This one is a bit more of a puzzle game, but still in the same vein.  It looks beautiful and very atmospheric, I just never have had time to play it.  It's on the Steams.

Cave Story

Again, another game I've never gotten around to play.  I'm not a big fan of Metroid, but I've heard good things from this, so maybe it will change my mind about the genre.  

Dark Souls

I haven't played Dark Souls or Demon Souls, but I heard both are amazing. Danny and Brandon have already said everything that needs to be said about this game proposal.  My only apprehension is that this club only requires two hours or so playing a game per week, and it looks like this game may require much more time to fully understand it and appreciate it.  It's available on PS3 and PC.

System Shock 2

This is a game that needs no introduction.

It's on GOG.

Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden.

I played this game a while ago and had a blast.  It's the funniest game I ever played, and the gameplay is surprisingly good and addictive.  This game is on my unofficial list of games everyone should play at least once.  I've been wanting to play it again, but since it is a game I've already played, it's kinda low on my list of games for this club.  It's available free online.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

This game is also on my unofficial list of games everyone should play.  It's a dark horse of a game as it released with a bunch of bugs and in the shadow of Half-Life 2.  It's a case study on how to do perfect atmosphere and never take your game too seriously.  Though it's about vampires, it's as far away from Twilight as possible, and I chose the above image as the box art doesn't do the game justice.  Again, I've also played this game, but it's almost time for my annual play-through.  It's available on Steam, but it is way overpriced, at 20 bucks for an eight year old game.  Also, since Troika is bust, your money goes instead to the creative publishers at Activision, who have brought us Call of Duty 25: The Mountain Dewening. So, if you do want to play this game, maybe you should *cough* pirate it *cough* and then *cough* send Tim Cain twenty bucks in the mail *cough*.  Just a thought.

Brandon's Proposed Games List

Kentucky Route Zero: An episodic adventure in a mystical South that focuses on storytelling and atmosphere, this game has had me intrigued for months. I've played through Act 1, but Act 2 is set to be released near the end of April, and I would love to see what other people think about the story and the characters. Apparently, dialogue choices you make have a direct impact on the story you get, and I'd love a chance to chat with people about the various routes they took, and what they think the meaning behind it is.



Amnesia: The Dark Descent: I've been told - by practically the entire Internet - that this is THE horror game. I love me some scary shit, and this game promises to deliver. Whether we play this version, or wait a bit for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs to be released, doesn't matter to me - I just want to begin my foray into the realm of horrow gaming, and this looks like the best place to start.

 

 Civilization 5: I'm not going to lie, I LOVE the Civ franchise. I've played them all, and logged a fair number of hours in Civ 5 already. However, I have never truly experienced playing a multiplayer Civ game, and that just sounds like fun. Obviously, that would take some coordination from the rest of the Club, but if the desire is there, I'd like to tap it.





Dark Souls: Not much more to add about this game that hasn't already been covered in Danny's post. I've logged just under two hours in this game, and I've died. A lot. I'm pretty sure I've developed some sort of sadism, because I still love this game. Also, it will be nice to have someone to cry to after this game kicks my ass. Again.

Dungeons of Dredmor: This slot was a toss up between FTL and this game. I really enjoy Roguelike games, and the reason this one made the list and FTL didn't is that I've beaten FTL. This game has a fantastic sense of humor, if you look for it, and offers a TON of different playstyle options that makes the monotony of dungeon crawling very enjoyable.

Kinetic Void: This game hasn't been released yet, but you can get early access for it via Steam. Space sims are a genre of gaming that I've wanted to try, but been too scared by the (usually) intense learning curves required to play well. This game seems to offer a good balance between exploration, ship design and customization, and the randomly-generated content that makes games like this so much fun to play with other people, simply because your experiences can differ so wildly.

Torchlight II: Ah, Torchlight. This game is simply fantastic. I love the fast paced but simple combat, the art style, the relatively unique take on classic rpg character archetypes - but this game really shines, I think, in multiplayer. There is something immeasurably satisfying about stomping a mob of forty spiders with a buddy or two that only a game like this offers.

War of the Roses: Kingmaker: This game and Chivalry came out around the same time, and at first glance its hard to tell what sets them apart. I've played games like Mount and Blade, but havn't touched either of these two. I've done a bit of research, and Chivalry is more akin to a Call of Duty sort of game - a drop in, drop out hack'n'slasher that, while fun, may get stale pretty quickly. War of the Roses offers a ton of character customization options and unlocks that keep you interested in the game for far longer.

Sid Meier's Pirates!: This is one of my favorite games of all time. Period. I love pirates, cannon battles, and plundering. And yet I don't know if I've ever even talked about this game with anyone. Its dated, some of its mechanics are shit, and I havn't touched it in years - but it is just so damn fun, and I'd like to share this game with others who are maybe turned off by the games age. If a piratey rpg/adventure game sounds appealing to you in the least bit, give this game a try.

Starseed Pilgrim: A recent indie title, Starseed Pilgrim caught my eye for its simple design that seems to mask a much deeper and thought-provoking game. I've read a little bit about it (not much, I don't like reading about games before I play them) and most of the people who have played it come away feeling like they've reached something - they just aren't sure what it is. Any game that evokes this kind of feeling deserves a try.



----------


Well, there's my list! All of these games are available via Steam, and most of them aren't too graphically robust, so running them shouldn't be an issue. Let me know what you think! I love story, and I love games that evoke feeling in the player, or allow the player to create their own narrative. So if you have any recommendations, feel free to give suggestions - and if you're a Club member, let me know what you want to play!

Danny's Proposed Games To Get The Club Started

I want to play Little Inferno because one of its developers created World of Goo.  Also, Little Inferno was nominated for Technical Excellence, the Nuovo Award (an award that honors unconventional game development), and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at this year's Independent Games Festival.

I have a bad habit of reading about video games before I make any attempt to play them.  This game was released with some high praise but mostly middling reviews.  I consistently heard that Papa & Yo's gameplay mechanics were not particularly fun or satisfying in the best cases, and were broken in the worst cases.  However, many people compliment the game for its autobiographical storytelling and the daring ways it presents the complex emotional relationship the lead game designer had with his alcoholic father growing up.  People often complain about poor/safe storytelling in games, and the unconventional storytelling found in Papa & Yo seems like something unique worth checking out.

I haven't put a significant amount of time into an RPG since I played through Final Fantasy X in 2003.  I think I like RPGs, but I don't play them consistently enough to know for sure.  I want to test those waters with Cthulhu Saves the World.  Plus, I love its retro aesthetic.

Resonance was developed by Vince XII right here in Omaha, NE.  I want to support local developers, and buying, playing, and discussing their games seems like the optimum way to do that.  Any fans of the old Lucas Arts or Sierra adventure games will want to check out Resonance.

I know the combat in Fallout plays like a turn-based strategy game.  I'm imagining Fallout is like Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced if the bright and jaunty world of Ivalice was replaced with a bleak, post-apocalyptic wasteland.  I think that sounds awesome.  Fallout is an often discussed game by people enthusiastic about game design, and I'd like to be able to join some of those conversations by experiencing Fallout for myself.

Frozen Synapse

Frozen Synapse looks like an awesome strategy game.  The gameplay is simultaneous turn-based.  If that piques your interest, go watch a gameplay video because I'm not sure how to succinctly explain it.  I have to admit that I already have this game sitting in my Steam library.  I haven't played it yet, but I fully intend to.  The thinking man's choose-your-own pace nature of this game seems right up my alley.  As a nice bonus, when this game is purchased from Steam, it comes with two copies.  This purchase model make Frozen Synapse perfect for game clubs.

Cave Story

It's been a long time since I've played Super Metroid.  I think Cave Story can fill my brain with wonder like Super Metroid did when I was 6.  That's high praise.

Like Papa & Yo, I haven't played The Cave yet because of my bad habit of reading about games before I make any attempt to play them.  While I was very excited about The Cave before it was released, it received a lot of middling reviews upon release that have caused me to postpone making the purchase.  I know I will eventually play The Cave because I love all the previous games led by Ron Gilbert or developed at Double Fine.  Making The Cave a game club game will push me to play it sooner than I probably would if I were to tackle it alone.

Whenever people talk about Sleeping Dogs, they always mention how surprisingly good the game is.  I like when games defy expectations, and think these kinds of games should be supported.

Dark Souls

This game looks hard as fuck, and is equally as intimidating.  If I start playing Dark Souls, I know I'll struggle with the difficulty of gameplay every step of the way.  Misery loves company, and I want to play this one with people I know struggling beside me.

Psychonauts has grown a substantial cult following in the years since its release.  I've always enjoyed 3D platforming games, such as Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and Rocket: Robot on Wheels.  I've also been watching and loving 2 Player Productions' documentary series on the making of the Kickstarted Double Fine Adventure game (now known as Broken Age), and I'm in the mood to absorb all the Double Fine/Tim Schafer content I can.

----------

That's my list.  Right now, these are the non-platform exclusive games I want to play more than anything else.  What do you think?  Do you see anything listed here that you're dying to play as well?  Do have reasons for not wanting to play any of these games this summer?  If you're a member of the Omaha Game Club, leave your comments below to help me decide which of these games should be included on the roster!