In case you missed it, TAGAP 3 is now available on the indie game distribution platform Itch.io.
I'm planning on adding Classic TAGAP there as well, once I get the new updates ready. Move to Itch.io was something I've considered for quite some time. Unlike Steam, Itch doesn't have as much corporate baggage and is more freeware-friendly. Steam is for selling games only, whereas Itch.io is far superior for sharing non-commercial projects.
So yes, here on out, new TAGAP releases will also be available on Itch.io – along with being available on TAGAP website, of course. And they remain freeware as always.
As you might know, the only social media I use is Twitter, where I do post small info blurbs on what I'm working on. The big announcements get a TAGAP website posts as well, but smaller stuff I leave at Twitter – which until now was fine, as the feed is also visible on the website for those who don't use the blue bird service.
However, I was recently reminded that due to all the bad things going on in the world, a big chunk of TAGAP fans can't access Twitter – be it service outages or governmental bans. This includes the embedded feed on the TAGAP website.
So, here's a rundown of stuff I've mumbled on Twitter so that everyone can catch up;
TAGAP 4 will have a new post-campaign game mode. It was supposed to be a simple little thing, but as it is usual to me, it got out of hand and is now something a lot bigger. I will have a proper reveal for it down the line, but I'm sure old-school TAGAP-addicts will dig it.
Most of the soundtrack is ready and it is the funkiest one yet. Like the game itself, it is more focused – less genre-jumping with more to-the-point sound. Majority of it is already in-place in the game. Next up Petja is working on the cinematics score.
Got the proofread of the TAGAP 4 script, meaning I can start finalizing the Database, extras and dialogue. The main cast VO session is currently being scheduled.
There's a new versions of older TAGAP titles also in the works. TAGAP 3 was already updated with a whole new suite of improvements to stability and performance.
I'm focusing on three things:
the afore-mentioned new game mode
music implementation (setting up loops, dynamic music switches etc.)
illustrations
The first two I already covered above – and the illustrations part you've seen an example already. The World Penguin Day wallpaper of Pablo?
1920×1080 1920×1200 3840×2160 (4k)
That is actually one of them. These are for a specific section of the extras that unlocks after completing the game (and no, it's a different thing from the new game mode). And while I'm doing these illustrations, I'm throwing in the official TAGAP 4 cover art as well. In fact, that is what I'm working on right now. It's almost finished, I'm doing two different colour theme variants to see which one works better.
Hype stuff!
Playlist is a regular feature in our Penguin DT blog; A chance to highlight cool games both old and new that I've been playing. As always, I believe that in order to make games, you need to play them, preferably with a broad scope when it comes to genres, so each day I dedicate at least an hour to actually playing games. The rest of the free time? There is no such thing, it all belongs to TAGAP!
In the previous post I mentioned I was about start Elex II. I've now wrapped it up – after Davoth-knows how many hours. It is excellent, more focused and a lot smoother experience than its predecessor. The writing is great, the world is given tons of more depth and the gameplay is a lot more fluid. The jetpack in particular is a gameplay changer – it's not a pathetic little hop of the first Elex, but with upgrades you can go full 'Iron Man wielding a bastard sword'.
There is only one caveat with me recommending Elex II; you kind-of have to play the first Elex to understand it. Unlike games like Mass Effect 2 or, heck, TAGAP sequels, Elex II doesn't have an 'optional universe newbie' introduction. It does cover the plot points, but not really how the world works (Elex, Mana, Albs, Clerics, etc.). The setting being as complex as it is, you could end up quite lost without the first game under your belt.
But if you're in for an epic sci-fi-fantasy journey through two great RPGs, go grab Elex and Elex II.
After that, I started going through a backlog gem; Warhammer 40000: Necromunda: Hired Gun from Streum On Studio and Focus Home Entertainment. Behind the insanely long title hides an interesting premise. Everyone knows Warhammer 40k by this point, right? Necromunda is basically the sub-setting of that which focuses on not the space marines and cosmic wars, but semi-regular humans living in the Hive world Necromunda. And Hired Gun is a DOOM '16 inspired fast-paced FPS putting you into the boots of a bounty hunter in the dirty depths of Necromunda.
It's great and I feel like punching myself that I missed it last year. Oh well, better late than never. This is the second Warhammer 40k FPS from – and by the Emperor, these devs absolutely nail visualizing this setting from the boots-on-the-ground perspective. Combine this with a DOOM '16 style combat loop and you have a winner. It may be on the shorter side, but not every game needs to be a 100 hour RPG.
On TAGAP front, new version of Classic TAGAP and wrapping up that aforementioned post-campaign game mode for TAGAP 4. And new illustrations, those are still needed.
In the playlist; I've having a mini-marathon of Nightdive's Turok re-releases. It's been ages since I last played them and they are intriguing to visit after all this time.
