DP ServBot
03-18-2012, 11:30 PM
Indie developers are the starving artists of the video-game world, often brilliant and innovative, but also misunderstood, underfunded and more prone to writing free-form poetry on their LiveJournals. We at Joystiq believe no one deserves to starve, and many indie developers are entitled to a fridge full of tasty, fulfilling media coverage, right here. This week, Spencer Nielsen describes the benefits of simple mechanics with his iOS title Invader Zurp (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/invader-zurp/id461872128?mt=8), a simple tap game with a deep, visually appealing strategy.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/invader-zurp.png (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/)
What's your game called and what's it about?
The game is a physics-based shooter called Invader Zurp. You play as Zurp (or formally "Zurp: Destroyer of Worlds"), a little alien critter tasked with raining down mighty destruction from planet to planet on his spaceship. You fly on a rail in first person toward structures made of blocks. By touching the screen you fire super-intelligent smart bombs that home in on buildings, defense turrets and incoming missiles. The "touch to shoot" mechanic is dead simple to pick up but there is a deeper strategy in balancing offense, defense and taking measured risks.
Why develop independently, rather than work for an established company?
The freedom to work on ideas I find interesting and be the person that calls the shots is the reason I left Apple after five years to work on my own projects. Being one part of a large team working on large projects was satisfying and rewarding in its own way but I would always get these crazy ideas that I wanted to explore. The ability to see my own vision through and ship these "crazy ideas" has a reward and personal fulfillment that I value more than a steady paycheck.Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Invader Zurp (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Invader Zurp (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/) | Email this (http://www.joystiq.com/forward/20195826/) | Comments (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/#comments)
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http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/invader-zurp.png (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/)
What's your game called and what's it about?
The game is a physics-based shooter called Invader Zurp. You play as Zurp (or formally "Zurp: Destroyer of Worlds"), a little alien critter tasked with raining down mighty destruction from planet to planet on his spaceship. You fly on a rail in first person toward structures made of blocks. By touching the screen you fire super-intelligent smart bombs that home in on buildings, defense turrets and incoming missiles. The "touch to shoot" mechanic is dead simple to pick up but there is a deeper strategy in balancing offense, defense and taking measured risks.
Why develop independently, rather than work for an established company?
The freedom to work on ideas I find interesting and be the person that calls the shots is the reason I left Apple after five years to work on my own projects. Being one part of a large team working on large projects was satisfying and rewarding in its own way but I would always get these crazy ideas that I wanted to explore. The ability to see my own vision through and ship these "crazy ideas" has a reward and personal fulfillment that I value more than a steady paycheck.Continue reading The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Invader Zurp (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)The Joystiq Indie Pitch: Invader Zurp (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Permalink (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/) | Email this (http://www.joystiq.com/forward/20195826/) | Comments (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/the-joystiq-indie-pitch-invader-zurp/#comments)
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