There are demos I will have played but will not be mentioning on my site. Mostly if I quit a demo it’s one of two reasons, it is not optomized well and can barely run or… the game even if amazingly beautiful has extreme control issues and needs to be reconfigured completely. Pop-Culture Spectrum makes efforts to only promote, discuss or speak of the positive unless recieving a key and putting in enough effort to mention the game and find the merit even if disliking it. That won’t happen here, but there have been at five demos I have played and chosen to not speak of because of gameplay design issues by the dev and I’m not a pro gamer, but a DEMO should NEVER cause you frustration and anger, so “buyer beware”. Now here’s demos I loved.
SIMPLER TIMES: What I could explore of the one room offered was excellent. Music was fun, the art is beautiful and exquisite. I love how simple it truly is. You can draw, take photos, play guitar, even bird watch… but I also can’t get a feel for what the rest would be. A dorm room? An apartment? Would it be like Unpacking but more elborate with more to do then unpack, but actually play with items and a paintered digital art look? I’m curiously interested for more. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1812210/Simpler_Times/
BELONGING: This feels like it’s still very much in development, but it is part of the Steam Next Fest and a first person point and click exploration it’s interesting. Discovering story elements through memories, videos, digital devices, etc. via a VR recreation of a crime scene (I think) feels wonderful. I don’t fully have the gist of what our mission is other than we are in the future, we’re cops of a sort and we’re exploring a cult that suddenly disappeared. I’ll be keeping my eye on this and so should you. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2081580/Belonging/
PROMENADE: Absolutely adorable platform puzzler. Not easy in the least. I have NO idea what the story is or what my motivation is from the demo, but the visuals are wonderful. I would watch the hell out of this as a cartoon although it is reminscent of Adventure Time meets a Boy and his Blob from both stylistically and gameplay. An alien like backpack that helps you grab enemies to jump higher cause your jump sucks while hunting down disc pieces for… I don’t know why. Again though, it’s adorable looking and super fun, even though I didn’t beat all the levels and I’m not even sure how to, I enjoyed my time and it is worth looking into. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1781260/Promenade/
THE THAUMATURGE: Traditionally I don’t enjoy isometric games or games with with rounded strategy combat yet those are two things this game are built heavily upon and I enjoyed them immensely. Mystical horror magic in the “olden times” (scarily not so LONG ago) of Rasputin (a character in this game) is definitely a good approach to make something feel different and original. Lovecraftian and/or Baba Yaga seems to be the go to a lot and instead Thaumaturge goes another approach. The investigation, keeping track of your skill management, discovering what is missing and solving the mystery on way to battle. I must admit at press time I did NOT finish this demo… I’m missing, something… but it is a marvel of an experience. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1684350/The_Thaumaturge/
AN ARCADE FULL OF CATS and A TOWER FULL OF CATS: Hidden cats are great. Super fun. Zen and yet also challenging. The story part of these both makes it even cooler and more fun. The demos only offer two hidden pictures, in the arcade the year 1995 with involves finding cats, but the other involved beating an arcade game to get cats an item so they can unlock other levels in the game if it was the final product. In Tower there were three levels and more objects to find as well, it’s a tower of time so it was prehistoric and egyptian These games were so fun it makes me wants to experience what Dev Cats did with Castle full of. 15/10 score. https://store.steampowered.com/developer/devcats
LOGIC PUZZLE: At first this escape room weirdness is something I can wrap my head around. Then it just gets way too much for me. It’s really well done though. If I had the patience to rteally think about the logic or not logic I think I would have a blast. The exploration is very well done, the puzzles are sound, but they just take a lot of mental power at a certain point. The kind of mental power where you’re like “Okay, that opens this, so that opens that, but… I can’t open that cause I need this and to get that I need to decode the morse code, but the morse code of what cause it’s a word but where’s the morse code itself? Oh I need to figure out this graph to figure out the code? Can I call a friend?”. That might be exactly what you’re looking for and if it… this is the game for you! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2513380/Logic_Escape/
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As always these are ICYMI. They are not endorsements or promotions.
An A24 sponsored series… they rule with films and release wild esteric horror. Very interested to see what a series they chose to pick up is like.
A fuller trailer to the Bennett & Huettner series developing their 2016 short into a full series. This is a thing Max has been doing with animators and it’s created excellent stuff.
The newest SNL short film phenomenon made their first full length feature.
I am not a Christmas fan, but I am an Eddie Murphy fan. I also love Reginald Hudlin films and the script is an original personal story from Kelly Younger, who has “cracked his teeth” at Disney Animation, Pixar and Muppets as well as in plays.
Pepetual Doom’s Stay Tuned is a personal favorite and this is another brilliant cover from the project.
2:44 of pop perfection.
This looks captivating.
MIKA is LOVE.
Episode 1 and 2 of Night Eyes by mukpuddy are now out. All mukpuddy cartoons are the bestest.
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Following is the official press release for Ghost Machine comics as seen on Image Comics website. Super excited for this imprint that features some of my favorite writers and artists, including one of my top 10 artists of all time Gary Frank and one of my top 20 in Francis Manapul.
GHOST MACHINE, FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CREATOR-OWNED AND COOPERATIVE MEDIA COMPANY LAUNCHES AT NEW YORK COMIC CON
The groundbreaking creator collective is led by prolific writers and artists whose bestselling works include Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The Flash, The Ultimates, Black Lightning and Green Arrow – Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Geoff Johns, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Peter J. Tomasi, Maytal Zchut
The forward-thinking business model allows its creators to jointly own, run and operate the company and together share in publishing, media, merchandising and beyond, disrupting the status quo
The company launches with four shared universes of character-centered titles including Geiger, Redcoat, Rook: Exodus, The Rocketfellers and many more
NEW YORK 10/12/2023 — Ghost Machine, a first-of-its-kind creator-owned and operated media company officially launched today at New York Comic Con. Creators co-own all the characters and universes developed for Ghost Machine, sharing in all publishing, media, merchandise, and beyond. The pioneering creator collective is a global best-of-class roster of artists and writers whose award-winning and iconic works include a who’s who of comic book legends such as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The Flash, The Ultimates, Black Lightning and Green Arrow: Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Geoff Johns, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Peter J. Tomasi, and Maytal Zchut. The company plans to announce additional talent in the months ahead, including one major superstar creator. All creators will be exclusive to Ghost Machine for their comics work after completing their already committed to projects.
As the recent Hollywood strikes have shown, creatives are disenfranchised with the traditional industry model—creators seek increased empowerment as a natural progression to an ever-changing entertainment landscape. Ghost Machine’s enterprising business model is at the forefront of this evolution with the characters and full company ownership shared by its creators in every way.
“Our ambition for Ghost Machine is to push beyond superheroes, introducing new genres, characters and shared universes, completely co-owned by all the creators involved. We see this as the future of how creatives will work and retain creative control and meaningfully participate in success like never before,” said the Ghost Machine founding creators joint statement. “Our passion is for the magic of graphic storytelling and the emotional resonance of compelling characters. But we are not just a comic book company—we are the first wholly creator-owned and operated media company of its kind, born out of a desire to create and succeed together.”
Ghost Machine’s titles will be published through the original champion of creator-owned comics—Image Comics—the industry’s third largest comic book publisher behind Marvel and DC, which launched in 1992 when seven of the top comic book creators left Marvel Comics to own their own work and ideas. Now, Ghost Machine drives the industry norms and opportunities even further by having top talent collaborate and build out shared universes that they entirely control together. If Image Comics pushed the original boundaries, Ghost Machine is breaking barriers and creating a new frontier for creators.
Eric Stephenson, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer at Image Comics, said: “It’s been incredible to see how much planning has gone into what the Ghost Machine collaborators are putting together. It’s an amazing list of talent, but beyond that, they’re giving every aspect of this line a lot of thought, so that it’s more than just another series launch, it’s a true event. The way they’re working together, and working with Image, make this a noteworthy development for us, as well as a must-read comics lineup for anyone looking for something different and new.”
A two-issue prequel series, GEIGER: GROUND ZERO by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, ships in November and December before Ghost Machine’s first official release in January 2024 with GHOST MACHINE #1, a 64-page special which will introduce its FOUR SHARED UNIVERSES of characters: 1) THE UNNAMED; revealing a mysterious group of genre heroes from across history, featuring characters and titles like GEIGER, JUNKYARD JOE, REDCOAT and FIRST GHOST. A GEIGER series, based on Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s hit comic of the same name, is already in development at Paramount TV with director Justin Simien. 2) ROOK: EXODUS; a sprawling sci-fi epic which takes place in the far future, on a world where every aspect of nature is controlled by humanity. 3) The universe of FAMILY ODYSSEYS centering around the time displaced family, THE ROCKETFELLERS, and their friends. And 4) An epic HORROR UNIVERSE co-created and illustrated by one of our secret superstar artists to be announced, currently under contract. Following Ghost Machine #1, Ghost Machine’s titles will begin shipping in April 2024 with an all-new ongoing GEIGER series, REDCOAT and ROOK: EXODUS.
Ghost Machine will be at booth #3045 at New York Comic-Con with its entire creative team holding signings from 2-3pm ET Thursday, October 12, through Sunday, October 15. Talent will also be signing in the Artist Alley at various times throughout the convention. All booth guests will receive an exclusive GHOST MACHINE #1 ASHCAN with a cover by Gary Frank. The first-ever Ghost Machine panel will take place on Friday, October 13 from 12:15-1:15pm ET, moderated by Victor Dandridge, with attendees receiving an extremely limited GHOST MACHINE #1 ASHCAN featuring an exclusive ROOK: EXODUS Jason Fabok cover. Additional collector editions for sale at the booth will include: GEIGER #1 GLOW-IN-THE-DARK LIMITED EDITION, JUNKYARD JOE #1 BULLETPROOF LIMITED EDITION (silver foil cover) and REDCOAT SPECIAL #1 RED REVOLUTION LIMITED EDITION (red foil cover) for $20 a piece or all three for $60 with an exclusive GEIGER BORON ROD GLOWSTICK and a copy of the limited GHOST MACHINE #1 ASHCAN from the panel.
Visit the Ghost Machine website for more information, and the Ghost Machine Threadless store for available merchandise. For updates on all things Ghost Machine, follow ghostmachinepro on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and others.
The fest truly is big. Some demos are larger than others. Some make you want to explore as much as you can because who knows when you’ll play the whole game? Some take 30 minutes, some take 2-3 hours withstanding. Here are 5 more demos I played to completion and truly enjoyed to discuss and tell you (the universal) to go check out yourself.
AMERICAN ARCADIA: Imagine if everyone on The Truman Show didn’t know they were on it. Now imagine if someone who worked in production found out someone would be eliminated and they for reasons to be told wanted to save this person. Now take that but turn it into a video game that is half puzzle platformer and half first person narrative puzzle exploration. You get America Arcadia. The demo gives a perfect taste of this for me personally highly anticipated game, which trailers only gave a glimpse of. Now that I know how it’ll actually play? I really am all in. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1249040/American_Arcadia/
ANOMALY, AGENT: A very basic and also in ways simple low pixel side scrolling brawler/shooter, yet through the mechanics of “powers” becomes very interesting. You jump, you punch, you kick, you shoot, you dodge, you parry, you melee but the world around you and some of the weapons you get, that’s what changes things up here. Very easy to pick up and play as well. The little in jokes, the writing, this is something. No puzzles, just hand/eye and a tale. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2378620/Anomaly_Agent/
VLAD CIRCUS: Also a pixel art game, but a horror survival puzzle this time. The demo I don’t believe ever gets to the combat part of things, but the other vibes are there. Solving where to go, what to do next to trigger events, and what a dark sad event. These circus characters are full of life in their dialogue and backstory, and the main with being a clown who now suffers delusions in a horror game where there may or may not be dead bodies or all his friends from the circus reunion for 8 years ago might not exist is… a lot. It also is NOT what I expected. From trailers I thought this would be a point and click, but the gameplay surprised me pleasantly by being different. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1702430/Vlad_Circus_Descend_Into_Madness/
DOGGY DON’T CARE: I have played and beaten this before but I still really had fun. If you have not been a dog who doesn’t care yet, then go be one and be as expectant as I am for Rotub’s game/toy. I loved the graphical improvements and the ability to interact with way more than I could before, destruction is fun. How much trouble will Doggy get into when the parrot sends him into the city? There’s not much more to say here, it’s just adorable and zen while also making you think a bit and well, doggy don’t care. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2438180/Doggy_Dont_Care/
BUY ME SOME SOUP: I don’t know how to describe this, but here goes. Among many other emails, you get a friend asking you to buy them soup. Using hints from other emails, you go to other websites, you find info, you input info, you play games on an old computer, you listen to music, you watch videos, you send emails, you read emails, eventually, you get soup and then? Well… then the demo ends. It’s a trippy experience inside a computer… but is it all in the computer? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1606990/Buy_Me_Some_Soup/
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Loved the other TROLLS films and cartoons and this I feel will be no different.
This might be wrestling, but Toni Storm’s “Timeless” character is just that and she is rocking it both in and out of the squared circle to create something that lives beyond wrestling.
This is also wrestling but this film looks wonderful. A tragic tale of lots of loss and very little actual victory. The cast seems to have turned in amazing performances. A great addition to the A24 library.
Rule 63 South Park? This doesn’t even make sense. Kyle said so.
Very intriguing that a Danish film about a family in WWII got a sequel telling the following years. Especially it being an original story and IP, not from a book.
Posted inNerd Notes|Comments Off on Nerd Notes (10/11/23)
INVASIVE | JILL AND THE KILLERS | CEMETERY KIDS DON’T DIE | NIGHT PEOPLE | AKỌGUN, BRUTALIZER OF GODS | . . . AND MORE YET TO COME!
Oni Press is proud to reveal ONI 2024—a high-intensity first wave of five propulsive new monthly comic series from a wide-ranging cast of award-winning creators and fast-rising stars that will fully embrace the potential of the comics medium to invert, collide, and reinvent the foundational genres of horror, science fiction, crime, fantasy, and beyond throughout the new year . . .
Beginning with INVASIVE #1—the terrifying new experiment in surgical horror from Eisner Award nominee Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and blockbuster artist Jesús Hervás (The Empty Man)—in December, each month will feature a new, must-read ONI 2024 debut:
JILL AND THE KILLERS #1—a razor-sharp teenage thriller from Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (Mary Shelley Monster Hunter) and Roberta Ingranata (Witchblade) in January
CEMETERY KIDS DON’T DIE #1—a near-future descent into a virtual world with killer consequences from Zac Thompson (Hunt for the Skinwalker) and Daniel Irizarri (XINO)in February
NIGHT PEOPLE #1—an uneasy odyssey into the provocative and surreal periphery of the American underworld from award-winning novelist and screenwriter Barry Gifford (Lost Highway, Wild at Heart) and writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood) with artists Brian Level (Poison Ivy), Alexandre Tefenkgi (The Good Asian), Artyom Topilin (I Hate This Place), and more in March
AKỌGUN, BRUTALIZER OF GODS #1—a fearlessly unrelenting reinvention of the barbarian mythos from creative powerhouses Murewa Ayodele (I Am Iron Man) and Dotun Akande (Moon Knight: Black, White & Red) in April.
“With ONI 2024, we’re setting out to redouble the mission that has made Oni one of the most innovative and influential publishers of the past quarter century: to produce utterly distinctive, wholly unrestrained, and singularly provocative series by creators with a relentless passion to make stories that can’t be told in any other medium,” said Oni Press president and publisher Hunter Gorinson. “These are maximalist comics made for maximum impact, with stories and formats specifically tailored to allow creators to do their best and most daring work.”
“The first semester of ONI 2024 delivers something for every reader, with stories that are rooted in genre, but twist and turn and deliver new ideas from a delightful cast of established and up-and-coming storytellers,” said editor in chief Sierra Hahn. “Is it 2024 yet?!”
Oni Press will dive deep into the ONI 2024 line-up at New York Comic Con on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 3:15 p.m. ET during the ONI PRESS: CLASS OF 2024 panel presentation in Room 406.2 with creators Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (Jill and the Killers), Melissa Flores (Nacelleverse), Matt Lesniewski (Faceless and the Family), Jarrett Melendez (Chef’s Kiss), Emmet Nahil (Let Me Out), Jordan Thomas (The Man From Maybe), Zac Thompson (Cemetery Kids Don’t Die),and LySandra Vuong (Covenant), alongside editor in chief Sierra Hahn and president and publisher Hunter Gorinson.
INVASIVE
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by JESÚS HERVÁS
Covers by JESÚS HERVÁS, LUANA VECCHIO, BRIAN LEVEL, JAE LEE & MORE
Beyond excess, beyond ethics, beyond science . . . Enter a terrifying new experiment in pain from Eisner Award nominee Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and acclaimed illustrator Jesús Hervás (The Empty Man, Cyberpunk 2077)!
Dr. Carrie Reynolds was a veteran trauma surgeon with a godlike mastery of muscle and bone. But outside the operating room, her rigidly ordered life spiraled into chaos when her daughter, Heather—a recovering plastic surgery addict—suddenly disappeared, only to mysteriously reemerge in a catatonic state, her vocal cords removed . . . the latest in a series of victims scarred by a battery of brazenly cruel medical procedures that have baffled police and left an alarming number of once-ordinary citizens maimed, mutilated, or dead on arrival.
Deep beneath the streets of Carrie’s city, a new kind of underground hospital has opened its doors . . . and, once inside, there are no rules, no oaths, and no taboos too deep to not to be broken. Together, a new class of surgeon has sworn to pierce the final threshold of accepted medical orthodoxy one incision at a time.
The scalpel is their tool. The alleys are their operating theater. Murder is their medicine. And only Carrie can stop what they’re planning next . . .
FOUR ISSUES | BEGINNING DECEMBER 2023
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JILL AND THE KILLERS
Written by OLIVIA CUARTERO-BRIGGS
Art by ROBERTA INGRANATA
Covers by SANYA ANWAR, MARGUERITE SAUVAGE, ALISON SAMPSON & MORE
A DOUBLE-SIZED AND DANGEROUS 48-PAGE DEBUT! Rising stars Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (Mary Shelley Monster Hunter) and Roberta Ingranata (Witchblade, Doctor Who) present a new kind of game where even murder is much more than it seems . . .
Returning to school after the unsolved disappearance of her mother, teenager Jill Estrada can’t wait for things to return to normal . . . even as her friends become compulsively obsessed with Box Killers, a true-crime subscription game where each month’s “unsolved case” is custom-tailored to the life of its player. There’s only one catch: Jill’s game seems to be all too real . . . and when her clues begin to connect to a series of disappearances in her town, Jill and her friends must uncover the truth behind these mysterious crimes before one of their own becomes the next victim.
FOUR ISSUES | BEGINNING JANUARY 2024
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CEMETERY KIDS DON’T DIE
Written by ZAC THOMPSON
Art by DANIEL IRIZARRI
Covers by DANIEL IRIZARRI, DUSTIN WEAVER & MORE
YOU’RE ONLY ALIVE IF YOU’RE ONLINE . . . Experience 2024’s most exhilarating, terrifying adventure downloading from critically acclaimed writer Zac Thompson (Hunt for the Skinwalker, The Dregs) and blockbuster artist Daniel Irizarri (XINO, Judge Dredd)!
The 21st century sucks hard, but it’s been made somewhat tolerable by the latest and greatest media innovation to finally unseat the iPhone. Enter the Dreamwave: the first gaming console played entirely while you sleep.
Now the obsession of millions around the globe, it’s also the one point of solace for four friends whose lives have been marred by trauma and dysfunction. Together, this group of ultra-online “Cemetery Kids” spend their nights roaming the open world of the most immersive and brutal horror game ever created: “Nightmare Cemetery.” Together they seek to dethrone an enigmatic humanoid monster known only as the “The King of Sleep.”
Which was fun—until one of them doesn’t wake up . . . and finds their consciousness locked inside a horror game that is anything but imaginary. Now, the three remaining Cemetery Kids must navigate the game’s forbidden landscape to rescue their friend . . . and pray that the secret lurking at its center doesn’t follow them home.
FOUR ISSUES | BEGINNING FEBRUARY 2024
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NIGHT PEOPLE
Written by BARRY GIFFORD & CHRIS CONDON
Art by BRIAN LEVEL, ALEXANDRE TEFENKGI, ARTYOM TOPILIN & MORE
Covers by BRIAN LEVEL, JOËLLE JONES, J.H. WILLIAMS III & MORE
From the mind of literary icon Barry Gifford—internationally renowned creator of Wild at Heart and cowriter of David Lynch’s neo-noir masterpiece Lost Highway—Night People is a pulsating roadmap of the American subconscious, where neon-lit Southern nights give way to lipstick, sweat, and blood, and the odd, the innocent, and the evil are all fellow travelers down an interstate of dark, elusive dreams.
Adapted from Gifford’s acclaimed novel by breakout writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre) and a rotating cast of stunning artistic talents—including Brian Level (Poison Ivy), Alexandre Tefenkgi (The Good Asian), Artyom Topilin (I Hate This Place), and more—follow an uneasy cast of wanted men, cartel-killers, and lost souls through four interlocking tales as they travel a path of intoxication, lust, and spontaneous violence from New Orleans to Egypt City, Florida, and back again.
In our first tale of desperation, fanaticism, and murder: Two ex-convicts—a pair of inseparable lovers named Big Betty Stalcup and Miss Cutie Early—are out on parole using their newfound freedom to purify the world of men’s evil influence . . . and leaving a trail of mutilated bodies in their wake. As the psychotic dimensions of their star-crossed romance—and the twisting paths that first led them to their fateful meeting at the Fort Sumatra Detention Center for Wayward Women—come into full view, their experiment in righteousness culminates in the kidnapping of Rollo Lamar, a kindly attorney whom Betty and Cutie abduct just to see if they can reeducate at least one man on the planet before the demise of civilization.
FOUR ISSUES | BEGINNING MARCH 2024
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AKỌGUN: BRUTALIZER OF GODS
Written by MUREWA AYODELE
Art & Cover by DOTUN AKANDE
In an age thought forgotten . . . when man, monster, and the divine all strode the Earth . . . a lone warrior emerges to test the immortality of the cruel gods who would deal destruction with impunity . . . He is a one-man reckoning that stands in defiance of his divine masters with a sword in hand and a thirst for godblood. His name: AKỌGUN THE BRUTALIZER!
In the tradition of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Thor, and the best-selling God of War franchise, superstars-in-the-making Murewa Ayodele and Dotun Akande—the creative duo behind I Am Iron Man and Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood—usher in a new epoch of African dark fantasy on the ancient continent of Alkebulan with a mythic cycle of cosmic destiny and unrelenting warfare colliding man against god . . . and blade against blade!
Told across three powerfully oversized chapters, steady your mind and spirit for a glorious new comics milestone revealing the fabled origin and battle-tested fury of . . . Akǫgun: Brutalizer of Gods!
The following are descriptions of demos from the Steam Next Fest that caught my interest and which I actually was able to successfully complete enough to desire them in my library one day and to present to you as demos worth experiencing and games to put on your wishlists. The Steam Next Fest is a huge virtual show so I shall be presenting it in pieces so as not to bombard you or myself.
REVEIL: I got an early access to this game demo through Terminals. You’ll want this experience even though it’s a demo that leaves you with “more please”. Creepy, sad, and a lot of “What happened?”. Is it a dream, a nightmare, a delusion, a walking day dream through memory distorted through hellish nightscape or just through the breaking of the mind? Clowns, fun houses, circuses, what is past? what is present? https://store.steampowered.com/app/809060/REVEIL/
VENGEANCE OF MR.PEPPERMINT: Take one part OLDBOY, one part Inception, a bite of Matrix, a little Shutter Island, and toss it in a blender with Final Fight and Streets of Rage, sprinkle with Ju-On, Akira, and some more horror and those ilk and you get a JIST of what this game is. This demo feels like it shows a lot but at the same time leaves you wondering what is truly happening. I was also amazed at how generous the ease was and I wonder if the final game is only using a side scroll beat-em-up as a story telling device instead of it being an actual beat-em-up. If so, I love that narrative concept. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2287560/Vengeance_of_Mr_Peppermint/
THE HOLY GOSH DARN: A brilliant art style. The latest from the developers of Manual Samuel and Helheim Hassle and continuing that universe. A point and click and puzzle game with time travel manipulation (forwards, backwards and in between). Very clever, very fun to solve. Very interested on how big the game gets as you go along, as it feels it can get very big. Did I mention the art? Cause it’s so good… it looks like Manual Samuel but even better. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466230/The_Holy_Gosh_Darn
FLASHBACK 2: This is your daddy’s Flashback or even your Flashback. This sequel is a 3D rendered beautiful Open world scroller full of running, jumping, shooting, puzzles and story. The demo gives you a taste of the visuals, the gun play and an idea of where the story is going. It seems you’ll need to get a job, to raise money, to get a mech, to get info to save a friend. I’m sure along the way much more will happen. The demo gave me enough to know I’m in for the ride. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2008420/Flashback_2/
Agatha Christie – Murder on the Orient Express: A quiet subdued demo and which I hope the game itself is as such. Very good voice acting, an interesting visual design. Moving the story to modern times and creating something new while still revolving around the original mystery and Poroit’s style of investigation is fantastic. I enjoyed the most recent film versions by Kenneth Branagh but Christie work is so easily adapted and this seems to have done it quite well. Investigation work was simple, but will your intuition without enough evidence trip you up? The addition of more than one playable character is also special for this type of game. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1904790/Agatha_Christie__Murder_on_the_Orient_Express/
THE GAP: A visual novel that you must pay deep attention to. There are in depth puzzles to solve, interactions to wonder. I reached the end with so much answered and yet so many questions. I also watched a streamer play through a more complete version with the Devs there for discussion. Knowing this is a two person project is also amazing. Alternate realites? Cures for neuro destruction? Excited for this. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1458300/The_Gap/
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The following trailers are not promotion or marketing. They are meant simply to make sure if you have missed them and come upon this website on your travels through the internet you get to see them and be aware of stuff existing.
When David Ayer hits, he hits good!
14 years laters, Eli Roth finally makes what Thanksgiving would be if instead of a Grindhouse 70’s trailer it was a aughties modern slasher.
One of the not to miss streaming only films to catch this year IMO.
Absolutely fascinating video game. Amazing role for an actor to tackle.
Jack Dawkins, MD.
The Godzilla/Kong verse is big. Very big. Late November.
Little Big x bbno$ – IT HAPPENS… it’s another Little Big masterpiece.
Beautiful animation.
New The Killers!
Absolutely original game mix American Arcadia gets date release and tons of new footage. This game looks so fun and weird and different.
Posted inNerd Notes|Comments Off on Nerd Notes (10/5/2023)
REVEIL, a narrative horror experience, has a demo coming soon
THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
Daedalic Entertainment is proud to reveal, for the first time, in front of your very eyes, a demo of REVEIL A narrative horror experience
During the Steam Next Fest, this October 9 at 10:00 AM PDT (UTC-7) to October 16 at 10:00 AM PDT (UTC-7), you too can marvel at the narrative horror experience within. The sights and sounds within may try to deceive, but don’t be alarmed. The circus is here to entertain, in this psychological horror, first-person narrative and puzzle game in a brief demo.
Revel in the atmospheric telling of the mysteries surrounding Walter Thompson, his missing wife and child, and a circus from his memories.
ABOUT THE GAME
Relive Walter Thompson’s worst memories in this narrative psychological horror experience that feels straight from the brains of Alfred Hitchcock or Stephen King. Explore the decaying labyrinth of Walter’s mind, solving puzzles based on his life at an abandoned 1980s circus.
You wake up. You’re disoriented. Your head hurts. Things seem surreal, yet familiar.
Your wife Martha and your daughter Dorie are not there. Why?
Looking for answers, you explore your environment and fragments of memories. On your journey you are repeatedly confronted with riddling tasks, driven by the desire to find out what’s going on.
What happened last night? Why can’t you think of any other thing aside from your days as a stage builder at the circus?
As things get crazier and more bizarre, the lines between reality, memory, and imagination become more and more blurred and you realize: there is no going back. You have to do whatever it takes to bring this story to an end, no matter at what cost.
The only thing that keeps you from giving up is the will to find Martha and Dorie. Do not shut your eyes to the hints left by the two, but keep them wide open …and try to not lose your mind.
“The feeling of safety is an elusive one. It’s not over yet.”
Features
A deeply psychological experience that will keep you questioning everything.
Five playable acts in different, carefully designed environments.
First-person narrative experience including:
Various puzzles and riddles
Beautiful and immersive visual experience #madewithunity
Multi-layered narrative with psychedelic, visceral,and disturbing elements
Atmospheric paintings, posters, writings referring to the circus era of the 1960s.
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LIGHTBOX EXPO Programming Highlights Include Panels Spotlighting Nimona, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, the Spider-Verse, Star Wars and More
The Three Day Event Celebrating the Visual Arts Will be Held in Pasadena, CA from October 27-29, 2023
(October 3, 2023) Celebrated character designer and illustrator Bobby Chiu (Disney’s Alice in Wonderland) and event organizer and filmmaker Jim Demonakos (Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters) have created an event unlike any other with LightBox Expo, a three day celebration of the visual arts held in Pasadena, California. LightBox Expo celebrates the artists and creators behind acclaimed films, animation, games, TV shows, comics and illustrations and this year’s event features an impressive range of artists, including Marvel Studios character designers Chelsea Li and Adi Granov, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem director Jeff Rowe, best selling Nimona creator ND Stevenson, webcomic superstar LySandra Vuong (Covenant), Studio Ghibli painter Yoichi Nishikawa, and ILM senior art director Christian Alzmann (The Mandalorian, Rogue One). This year’s event will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center from Friday October 27th through Sunday October 29th.
“We’re excited to present educational panels throughout the show that allow new and upcoming artists to hear about pathways into the industry,” said Bobby Chiu. “In addition, much of the programming allows artists of all levels to learn new tips, tricks and techniques to up their art game, making it the perfect place to come learn no matter where you are in your artistic journey.”
“LightBox Expo features over 600 artists, more than 200 panels and demos, plus over 300 creators in artist alley,” said Jim Demonakos. “Attendees to this year’s event will be able to purchase plus toys of the LBX Mascots, a hoodie specifically designed to cater to traditional and digital artists, a selection of custom sketchbooks and more!”
Bobby Chiu and Jim Demonakos created LightBox Expo as a way to unite the best artists in the animation, illustration, live action and gaming industries under one roof for the ultimate celebration of art. Highlights of this year’s event, include a series of high profile panels which will be held in the spacious Civic Auditorium of the Pasadena Convention Center:
Hatching A Plan
Join Director Sam Fell and Aardman Animation Co-Founder Peter Lord, as they crack open a soufflé of scintillating secrets from behind the scenes of Aardman’s latest stop frame digital kitchen – Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Foxes strictly prohibited.
Guts, Glory, Transformation and HEART
Join Directors Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, and The Creator of the NYT Best Selling Graphic Novel, ND Stevenson as they present a special “Making Of” session that illustrates the process of bringing Nimona’s fearless journey from Graphic Novel to Screen. Uncover the challenges faced and the artistic triumphs achieved while breaking barriers in feature animation storytelling.
A Session with Character Design Legends
Step into the world of animation with character design legends Carter Goodrich, Peter de Seve, and Carlos Grangel, moderated by Renee di Cherri. These master artists have collectively influenced iconic animated films such as “Ratatouille,” “Finding Nemo,” “Ice Age,” “Despicable Me,” “Corpse Bride,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “Shrek,” “The Incredibles,” “Madagascar,” “The Prince of Egypt,” and a multitude more. Dive deep into the minds of those who’ve shaped the faces of animation, exploring their creative process, unique insights, and the journey of character design evolution. Don’t miss this chance to gain invaluable knowledge from the individuals who have defined character artistry in the animated film industry.
Creating the Spider-Verse
Hear from some of the incredible designers at Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks as they discuss their process in creating some of the most exciting worlds featured in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” This session will focus on the artistic and technological innovations of the production, presented by Patrick O’Keefe (Production Designer) and Mike Lasker (VFX Supervisor).
A Conversation with the Artists of Star Wars
Join us as we look at the creative journeys of Lucasfilm designers: Christian Alzmann, Brian Matyas, and Benjamin Last. Discover how they conceptualize their ideas, collaborate with fellow creatives, and approach design challenges. They will be sharing stories about the process of designing characters, droids, vehicles and more!
One of the show’s other highlights is The Concept Art Awards, an annual award ceremony designed to recognize and bring increased awareness of the role of concept artists throughout the world of movies, television, video games, and more. This year’s finalists include Kristafer Anka (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), Debby Coleman & Maria Yi (Elemental), Nacho Molina (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem), Tyler Carter (Nimona), Dawn Carlos (Tales of the Jedi), Genevieve Tsai (Animaniacs), Meybis Ruiz Cruz (Entergalactic) and many more. The 2023 Concept Art Awards finalists can be viewed here: https://www.conceptartassociation.com/
Learn more about the Concept Art Association and the 2023 Concept Art Awards Presented by LightBox Expo by visiting their website or following them on Instagram.
