itch.io

"The Archivist and the Revolution" got reviewed by the arcane cache, a underground blog for underground games:

„The game and its world are well created – not only in the sense that it contains many creative ideas that go beyond the (also present) science-fiction cliches, but also since it does a really good job to depict the struggles and predicaments of the protagonist – the descriptions and structures feel inherent logical and very natural, and even though many of today’s many pressing matters are thematised, it never feels tokenistic doing so ... The Archivist and the Revolution“ is a well realized, highly political piece of hyperlink fiction that doesn’t need to hide behind most of the contemporary commercial science fiction stories I’ve read in the past few years; its direct language, its naturalist approach, the – rather pronounced – gameplay elements, and its clear political agenda make it enjoyable to underground gaming enthusiasts and a larger audience alike."

Well done!

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/04/10/the-archivist-and-t...

Congratulations, this is a great game.

It just got reviewed one on the arcane cache:

Solitary Stars feels much more like a window to its own little cosmos, and evades simple interpretations not only through the amount of different ideas and topics that are touched, but also through a skillful utilization of the hypertext technique...

Well done!

Your work got reviewed by the arcane cache, a small underground blog for great underground art :)

...Rather than getting „compressed“ and belittled by the tools and machines (that usually turn human creativity into „models“ for later utilization nowadays), they are using algorithms and code snippets to compress, recite, and extract something that they seem to regard as a inner beauty in a (only?) seemingly inherent senseless world.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/02/24/inflorescence-city-...

Well done!

Another Lets Play by a small channel, I love these =)

Your game got reviewed on the arcane cache, an underground blog for underground games

"There is a lot of cozyness to be found between old ruins in the middle of deep woods, between small hamlets in which simple people live off the land, all framed by large mountainsides with deep dark castles and towers that hide powerful magic."

Well done!

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/02/03/of-olden-tymes-a-re...

Blobworld and Henry is Hungry got reviewed on the arcane cache, and underground blog for underground games!

The level design is pretty good, difficulty and progression are well measured, and did I already say that the sprites are damn well made? Nothing experimental, ground breaking or even surprising here, but in the end „Blobworld“ is a rock solid, well made little platformer that comes a long way with its rather limited resources.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/01/31/blobworld-henry-is-...

Well done!

I acknowledge that you don't see your creation as a game; for me, the definitions of different forms of art is a highly fluent one; if you hadn't told me (and partly even though) I'd see it as a game, since the technical basis would practically allow you to allow me to interfere; but you decided against it. This is - for me - a element of gamedesign, although a rather radical one ;).

But this isn't what matters. What matters is that this is a wonderful game.

Greetings!

Thunder

Absent minded got reviewed by the arcane cache, a underground blog for underground games.

Absent minded is a ultra short hypertext fiction story accompanied by color distorted pixelized photos. The throughout fine and coherent production, the the trenchant quality of writing and the consequence in utilizing the means of video gaming subsume to a great and unique gaming experience. Highly recommend to play this; a run will take you roughly 15 minutes.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/01/20/absent-minded/

Super.

Also, thanks for re-hosting the Jam! ;) I was hoping for it!

Hi.

I've a larger-scale project on ice. There has been some (rather obscure) public beta versions, but no release on Itch or anywhere else.

Would it be okay to continue the work on such a project and release it on Itch during the jam-time? ;)

Greetings, and destroy the leviathan!

Thunder

The liberation got reviewed on the Arcane Cache, a underground blog for underground games.

..in the end, the supposed restrictions are broken – this game offers us its own answer to the question how free the individual really is.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2024/01/04/the-liberation/

Well done!

Carcosa was reviewed by the arcane cache, a highly underground blog for very underground games:

This game holds an elegant, hypnotic beauty and goes down the path of minimalism in a bolt and consequent way that makes it rather unique – the playtime is probably around one minute. It is an adaption of a poem that doesn’t really attempt to refresh anything, and isn’t interested in re-contextualization; this is an approach that bears the risk of gliding into a uncritical relation to the source material, and of getting a bit dusty – the game plays very much like a game that was released when the poem came out could have looked like, like a forged relict from an era that predates the medium; and looking at the developer and their affiliation with goth this might have been exactly what they wanted to do.

Well done!

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/12/18/carcosa/

Indeed a lovely little game. Would be great to see it in a more refined state :)

Glad you like it; was honestly unsure if I wasn't going on dangerously thin ice with this one.

Have a nice evening :).

Your game got reviewed by the Arcane Cache, a underground blog for underground games:

The fact that the developer couldn’t bring themself to complete it, but left the full horror as a non-realized, yet threatening indication prevented by bugs and other small faults they never could iron out makes it somewhat more complete – not necessarily as a game but surely as an piece of art, that escapes finalization just as its topics it deals with escape the imagination of probably nearly any empathic person.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/12/04/crystal-slaves/

Played it and liked it - a nice, difficult little jump'n run puzzle game! :)

Your game got reviewed on the Arcane Cache, a very underground blog for the utmost underground games!

My Strange Plane is a Thing Bodys Moves through is a walking simulator. You roam through a world beautifully saturated but harshly shaped and quite limited in its boundaries, which is inhabited by persons that are abstract forms composed from natural materials. They reflect mostly on themselves or complain to you about their insecurities and the hardships of their life. One of them will complain about the place, formulating their wish to jump off – you are free to do so, but will always be thrown back onto it. The soundtrack, consisting of ambient made from spaceflight field recordings establishes the link back to our reality.

It is one of the interactive poems created by Ondřej Throň that are connected not only by common themes (among politics, mental health, social inequality, and the bleakness of a world shaped by commodification), but also by their playing with and occasional bursting of medium-limits and standards – all of them exist on the boundary towards the interactive fiction and often show a high amount of literacy; they are clearly more on the „art“-side of gaming, and often leave much room for interpretation. I highly recommend to check them out!

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/11/14/the-games-of-ondrej...

Was my joy.

Corrected it!

You're welcome.

Just shoot over!

Hi McKid;

you're welcome! :).

I see. They don't harm much, but I believe that a certain uncertainty isn't at all to bad. 

To illustrate this further: I wasn't sure what the bull was meant to be, and even thought that it could be a idol in human form, twisted by the destruction that occurred, or, when I took a closer look the golden calf; I didn't got it as you wanted, but it still worked out well ;). I can however relate to the wish to make the game accessible. The graphics are indeed fine, though.

If you need some additional testers regarding the sound, feel free to contact me. (mail: contact@R3M0VEthunderperfectwitchcraft.org, without the remove).

I suggested the opposite: Only allow to further the expansion and remove the option to stop if the player skips the inspection of the world that is devoured ("I accept all of this!"). This would be - as I interpret it - in line with your games philosophy: The sun, ignorant of what surrounds her and thus unable to reflect about her own nature or existence, goes on without any consideration of what she destroys. Again, no must - the game is damn fine as it is after all.

Hi ofbleedingink;

ofc, - sorry for being unclear, twas late and I'm not a native speaker -: McKit got it right, I was talking about the list at the end of the game were some objects are further explained.

Greetings!

Hi.

I think your game is damn good. If you want some suggestions about further improvements:

1. At some points you can't progress if you haven't taken certain milestones. Give the (illusion) of real freedom; allow the player to leave a room by accepting everything, but maybe remove the option to stop growing if this is done everywhere.
2. Kick off the explanation at the end of the game (starring:). "Show, don't tell!". Really, your game doesn't need it.
3. Some sounds could profit from a slight re-balancing of loudness, some might profit from a bit reverb. Not much, though - and your sound is splendid.

Your game was reviewed for the Arcane Cache, the underground blog for underground games.

This is SF as it should – in my book – be done. Also, the use of the interactivity isn’t just a nice little extra (a common problem of narrative game design) but an essential part of the artwork and narrative. Chapeau!
The accompanying graphical art is well executed, and helps in creating a dense, melancholic atmosphere – the pictures are detailed, crafty, elegant, and prove a great admiration towards the project. The sound design is despite its moody concreteness mostly unobtrusive, but well used to emphasize peculiar points in the game. Art, game design and story add up to a coherent, tasteful, and overall exquisite experience.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/10/02/the-solar-system-ta...

Congratulations, and great work to all of you.

:)

You are very welcome; glad you liked it.
Thanks in turn for making interesting games!

Your game got reviewed by the Arcane Cache, a very underground blog for very underground games!

Noisy, distorted tunes accompany you while you ravage through deserted industrial sites, Calligari-esque streets and paganic churches – a dense, interesting and unique experience.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/09/18/the-fair/

Well done, congratulations! :)

Your game(s) got reviewed on the Arcane Cache, an underground blog for underground games!

The production value of this games is incredibly high. The sprites are charming. the sfx is satisfying, and at the best moments you turn up the volume to get out more of the music when entering a boss fight. ... According to the linked profiles the developer is employed as a lighter within the game industry, and I believe their experience in professional productions is apparent in the games - but on the other hand it is clear that these productions are labors of love. I strongly recommend to check them out.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/09/04/the-breakout-games-...

Well done!

Hi Frungi :)

Thanks for writing up this nice little guide!

Nil Rider got featured on the Arcane Cache, a Underground Blog for Underground Games:

Regarding the visual and acoustic design, the game is done simple but coherent; the graphics go well with the engine and the absurd world, and the music is fitting. I find it breathtaking how the developer utilizes their engine to create worlds that eludes the common logic and still manages to establish working games within them. While the gameplay is minimal it is not only fun but also works well as a bridge to enter the strange dimensions created by the game that feels like the opposite of an optical illusion: There is no trick about the essence of the emulated world, but it seems to be absurd since it is transported into our world and made accessible for our senses that aren’t fit to grasp what they receive. Even after quitting, my sight and perception felt like being bent for a while.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/08/07/nil-rider/

Congratulations, I'm a big fan of your work :).

OÐR got featured on the Arcane Cache, a most underground blog for most underground games.

Art style and audio design (including music) are dense, fitting and coherent. The game was made by a small team in the course of a month working on a fitting concept that they had in mind beforehand. As a result, the game is unusual well developed and produced when compared to an average jam entry. Yet it is still in active development, and the developers claim that they plan to do further polishing on it. I earnestly hope that they don’t overdo it: Grinding on the wrong places might remove to much in this case. The combination of hostility, strangeness and angularity is very unique and fun, and it would be great if some of the latter would make it into the final thing. That is to be said: The game is – at least as far as I made it last night – already fully playable and well worth to check out. The scope of the current game is large, it feels feature complete, and I didn’t encounter anything that could count as a bug.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/07/31/odr-the-sunken-fles...

We actually talked about making a game with this setting as well when hearing about the orcas attacking yachts. Now I saw this at the compilation video from Jupiter Hadley. Damn cool that you made it! :)

Thanks for including it in your video :).

"Hide and Seek" was reviewed by the Arcane Cache, a very underground blog for very underground games.

The mixture of media, the level of detail in both instances, and the sheer scale of the project allows for a deep dive into a world that is – at least to me – completely alien. While it is hard to say how much of the authors own personality went into it (and isn’t this question kind of futile?), there is a high amount of emotions and feelings transported and visible in this work. „Hide and Seek“ is a singular project that successfully utilizes the big leeway it creates by its mixed media approach.

https://thunderperfectwitchcraft.org/arcane_cache/2023/07/18/hide-and-seek/

Great work, congratulations! :)

Ty. I agree that RomHacking is inherently underground (same is true at least for parts of the modding community). Yet they (again: Like the Modding community) are a bit stewing in their own juice. Until now this works for them -  but modern gaming industry is showing both groups the teeth, and most contemporary games are harder to mod or hack, making the hobby less attractive for younger players.

Maybe I'll have to take a closer look on Newgrounds, regarded them mostly as some flash-game hub until now ;). Lately I'm fishing a bit into the web revival scene - a lot of creativity is bundled there right now.

The idea of creating platform occurred to  me as well, but I think that Itch is doing a fine job for hosting projects - what we rather need is - imho - more communication between ambitious developers and more (external) curation.

Yes, the "commercialization" of indie gaming is definitely a part of the problem - on the other hand, there never was much resistance against it, so I think that this was bound to happen, and that only a distinction from commercial gaming can create a staying and interesting scene.

Guess you made more than the project linked to your account? If you want, mail me some links to your games and I'll gladly look into them.

contact [at] thunderperfectwitchcraft.org

You know of existing channels were devs are actually exchanging feedback? If so, mind to link them? ;)

From what I observe every (cultural) market is in a state of consolidation, be it music, books, or video games, and the "good old times" (whatever you think them to be - I was never too fond of flashgames, but liked mid 2000s non-commercial game scene) are likely gone for good. Where easy accessible spots for "game creation" appear they are - by design - controlled by the industry. The Underground Gaming project is directed to escape this walled garden.

Its rather the other way around: Make a good game knowing that it will hardly be played, and I (and some others who sympathize with the concept - the networking effect of the idea works at least to some extend already) will play it. You won't make big numbers with it, but at least you'll get some people who play your game and give you some feedback instead of a bulk of people who - if they even download your game - likely never start it.

How would anticommunist anarchism be anticapitalist? You are trying to construct something; it isn't working out.

Care to explain what exactly is anticapitalist at anticommunism?

Thank you; going to look into your output soonish :).

Found this anticommunist entry:

https://itch.io/jam/fuck-capitalism-jam-2023/rate/2133043

Dunno if you can/want to moderate after the jam is over.