The current generation of game consoles have forced change onto all three platform holders. One of the biggest changes is their approach to indie games. Whereas previous generations weren’t so kind, the current platforms welcome indies with open arms. The biggest turnaround in this regard came from Nintendo where it completely revamped its developer relations program to get indies on the Wii U.
Continuing its commitment to indie games, Nintendo announced today that it will be at GDC this month showcasing all the indie content coming to the Wii U. Alongside the indie content, Nintendo will be showing how developers can build HTML5 games for Wii U using the Nintendo Web Framework. It will also try to attract developers through free Unity game engine licenses.
“We want to demonstrate to developers how easy it is for them to bring their creative ideas to Nintendo systems,” said Steve Singer, vice president of Licensing at Nintendo of America. “Nintendo offers wide-ranging support for indie developers, whether they want to use NWF, Unity or their own proprietary code.”
Nintendo will be showing off the following indie games at GDC:
Armillo by Fuzzy Wuzzy Games: This rolling platforming game stars a space armadillo and includes spherical worlds, moon stages, a parallel universe and hidden 2D levels. His little blue critter friends and his brother help him fight the invasion of the robotic Darkbots.
Ballpoint Universe: Infinite by Arachnid Games: This adventure seems taken right out of a student’s notebook. The entire game uses ballpoint pen drawings to create an imaginative world to explore.
Cubemen 2 by Nnooo: This fast-paced, action-packed, original 3D strategy game blends tower defense and real-time strategy genres into a fresh and exciting new experience that includes challenging strategy modes and customizable game settings.
Ittle Dew by Ludosity AB: Adventuress Ittle Dew and her sidekick, Tippsie, crash onto a strange island filled with loot and mysterious inhabitants. The game is loaded with adventure and features beautiful hand-drawn HD graphics.
Monkey Pirates by Henchmen Studio: Players control the boat of one of four captains and fight in multiple arenas based on four seaworthy environments. In those arenas players can find multiples bonuses to improve their weaponry or improve their ships while dealing with elements like icebergs, volcanoes, teleports, maelstroms and turrets.
Nihilumbra by BeautiFun Games: Born was created from the absolute nothingness: The Void. But somehow he separates himself from the black emptiness and appears in the world, where his long odyssey begins. He must learn how to use the colors around him to gain powerful abilities and transform the world.
Stick It to the Man by Zoink & Ripstone: Ray lives in a world where everything is made out of paper and stickers. An accident gives him awesome powers that let him read people’s minds and change the world around him by folding it, tearing it, pulling stickers off and sticking them elsewhere.
Teslagrad by Rain Games: This 2D game about exploration features a hand drawn art style, an open, steampunk-inspired world to explore and a wordless, story-driven plot. Magnetic forces are a central theme of the game, which includes 20 unique tracks of music.
Wooden Sen’SeY by Neko Entertainment: This 3D action-platformer is set in a unique “Japan Steam Rock” universe filled with humor. Players follow Goro, a village chief, as he seeks revenge through a variety of levels. Using old-school game play, he will defeat his enemies using his axes to slice, dice, squash and grapple.
If you’re expecting anything else from Nintendo at GDC, you should probably lose all hope now. The company will likely be focusing exclusively on indies at the event. We’ll have to wait until E3 to hear more about Nintendo in-house projects.
Image via Nintendo