Ok, if we believe there is something important everybody in and around the game industry should be doing is watching Extra Credits. The ever inspiring presentations written by James Portnow, presented by Daniel Floyd and rendered by Allison Theus are one of the most competent and noble effort to push the bounds of games as a media we have seen, both to prove it’s qualities and to clarify it’s flaws. Watching Extra Credits shows us a brighter future for games, and we are glad for that. But most important, Allison, Daniel and James have the bravery to stand out for what they (and we) believe is true, fair and important for this incredible media.

While you three stand out there, boldly conceiving the next episodes, preparing for storms after pointing the worst flaws we as industry and public do and what we could be doing for a better future, while you are there, know you have our love, respect and gratitude.

The Adugans

Here it is. This is the final version of Semblante, dubbed Semblante 3.0 or Anniversary Edition, since we wanted to release it at the eve of Global Game Jam 2011. Unfortunately we missed the deadline by a matter of hours (really) and decided to release this version of Semblante only after our work with Mnemons was done (and the SXSW contest tight deadline was clear).

What has changed? Well, basically everything. We put a good 3 weeks of work on this particular version of Semblante (before it, both 1.0 and 2.0 were 48h efforts). This means that the game is bigger and more polished all around, with navigable menus, volume control and some other stuff we usually take for granted like checkpoints and a pause screen. Also, we put a distinct personality in each of the game’s shadows (and their own proper puzzle to retrieve them), revamped the game’s graphics (especially Jung’s animations) and redesigned the game’s sound effects and music (courtesy of our friend Hermann Rauth). We’re also able to finally put the game’s original script to good use, putting some contextual, albeit obscure, text integrated within the game’s backgrounds.

You can download Semblante 3.0 for free here or at the game’s page.

EDIT (18:30 BRT): The file available for download was corrupted. It should be fixed now.

Just a quick update: we are officially listed on IndieDB which is probably the best game database for indie games on the web today. Also both Mnemons and Semblante have their own pages.

In other news, we are wrapping things up here and both Mnemons and Semblante will have their final (for now) builds. We are preparing a series of posts for both games, detailing aspects of their brief development (both were developed in a 3 week time-frame). Expect the final builds to be released by the end of the week and the posts following soon thereafter.

So, what have the Adugans been doing these past 3 weeks? We’ve been working on the brand new version of Mnemons. After the Global Game Jam 2011 we striped down the prototype, identified it’s core mechanics, essential features, pros and cons, and redefined it as a Synchronous Platforming Adventure. Today we are submitting it to the South By Southwest Festival Screenburn Independent Propeller Awards by IndiePub (so I heard indies like big names).

The game is now in Alpha, which means it’s core is running healthily, the mechanics and most of the assets are there, but it has only 13 of the 28 planned levels, and you’ll be able to play with Moe and Jimmie, but not with Debbie and Andy. We’ll feed you with more news about the Festival ASAP, and hope you enjoy playing the Alpha with your friends!

You can download the game here or you can check the brand new game page instead.

… a Synchronous Platforming Adventure.