FLEGA

VAF|GAME supports 15 projects in first call of the year

Christophe De bont

16/04/2021

The new VAF|GAME commissions had their work cut out for them but they gracefully completed their first mission. The brand new marketing commission also greenlit some projects in its debut performance, resulting in no less than 15 projects getting support in this first call of 2021. It’s good to see that even in these challenging times there’s still so many new and promising local video games in development.

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Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the projects that managed to convince the commission members this time.

Pre-production

With Ghost on the Shore nearing completion, like Charlie is developing their next story Cherry (entertainment game), for which they received € 48 500.
Newcomer AlterEyes gets € 37 500 for Defenders of Smurfs’ Village (entertainment game), a VR tower defense title featuring one of Belgium’s most treasured IP’s.
Receiving € 67 519, the VR horror experience ComaChronic (entertainment game) by Polygoat is the first succesful application rolling out of the innovation atelier track.
Dynamic Dimensions gets € 66 006 for De Vrije Hand (serious game).
LuGus Studios gets € 45 000 for Woodworks VR (educational game).

Ysvogel (serious game) by Possibly Pixels is getting € 44 250
Rocket Vulture receives € 67 000 for Small Town Adventures (entertainment game), a nostalgic throwback to simpler times.
New kids on the block Media Makers receive € 28 700 for brewing up an experiment in Alchemize (entertainment game)
MoonMonster Studios are getting € 35 000 for Space Control (entertainment game), a VR comedy about interstellar border control.
Tamed (entertainment game) by eXiin is getting € 75 000 to keep telling stories in the magical world of Valdi.

Production

In order to keep releasing content updates for their small puzzle game with a big heart Sizeable (entertainment game), Business Goose Studios is getting € 15 000.
Studio Waterzooi is getting € 46 000 to wrap up and release his puzzle adventure about abstract art Please, Touch The Artwork (artistic game).

Promotion

Salty Lemon Entertainment gets € 50 000 to convince people indoor rowing can be fun with EXR: Rowing (serious game).
To reach more people while they keep making more content for Sizeable (entertainment game), Business Goose is also getting € 10 000 of promotion support.
CREATE Multimedia receives € 48 900 to promote the release of Silver (serious game), a game that helps young people build mental resilience.

Not too shabby for a first haul, we think! If you didn’t manage to secure funding, there’s no need to despair. There are still two more funding rounds this year. The next submission call deadline is 15th June, so get cracking!

Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is out now on Nintendo Switch

Christophe De bont

15/04/2021

It’s a good day for fans of colourful platform games, as everyone’s favourite scarecrow (sorry Jonathan Crane) returns for his first adventure on the Nintendo Switch today. Stitchy in Tooki Trouble marks the console debut for our proud member Polygoat, so let’s all celebrate with a bowl of creamed corn. And a trailer, why not?

Heavily inspired by the Donkey Kong Country series, Stitchy isn’t after the hoodlums that stole his bananas. No, he’s after the exotic wooden creatures that raided his corn fields. The scarecrow will have to chase the titular Tooki through three worlds, containing 9 levels of platforming fun that build up to a cool boss fight. After beating the main campaign, which shouldn’t take veteran players all that long, you can replay levels to find hidden totems or complete them faster.

The environments range from tropical islands to icy mountain tops and volcanic caves and they all look the part. While it’s not the most original game in the world – mine carts, flying barrels, it wears its inspiration very clearly on its sleeve – it has an undeniable charm that pops off the screen. Combine that with a rather mellow difficulty level and we expect Stitchy to be a hit with the young crowd. This might just be the game you’re looking for to prepare children for the fiercer challenges offered by the genre classics.

In the end, Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is a relaxed and charming adventure game that will be right at home at many a Nintendo Switch. Unlike most scarecrows, this one certainly has a heart.

Wanted: game developers to join the journey of these three storytellers

Christophe De bont

09/04/2021

Due to COVID restrictions a lot of audiovisual productions were put on the back burner last year. During that time, our friends at VAF stimulated the creativity of professionals who found themselves with some time on their hands through the innovation atelier track. In this program creators from various creative sectors were invited to submit ideas for a video game. Selected projects would then get some modest financial backing and, more importantly, coaching to refine their pitch in order to participate in a VAF funding call for preproduction.

To that extent, these storytellers are currently looking for a game studio with matching ambitions, who are eager to embark on a creative journey together. One of the four projects already has found shelter with our proud member Polygoat, but there’s still three fascinating stories that are sure to translate to an intriguing game experience.

Without further ado: on to the pitches!

Pieter Coudyzer – Pilgrim

Short animation film director and graphic novelist Pieter Coudyzer is working on a sidescrolling adventure game that tells the fairytale of a boy that’s so afraid of death, he’s too scared to ever leave the house. Until one day his mother doesn’t leave him a choice.

Jelle Janssens – The Ocean

With a background in documentary film, Jelle Janssens sets out to create a story based on real events. Playing as a nurse that worked in the biggest field hospital on the Belgian frontline during World War I, you’ll have to face gruesome memories to overcome your survivor’s guilt.

Sine Özbilge & Imge Özbilge – The Curator

Directed by sisters Sine and Imge Özbilge, The Curator challenges players to find a mysterious painting. This story about self-exploration is told from a first-person perspective and lets players discover the beautiful and intriguing world of art from the front row.

Thanks to the narrative and gameplay expertise of the coaches these pitches are more than just mere ideas. They are projects with a clear vision, thought up by professionals with a track record who show genuine interest and respect for the medium of video games. So if you feel a connection with one of the presented projects, quickly get in touch with VAF so they can introduce you to these incredible creators as soon as possible, before they get snatched up by another studio.

This year’s INDIGO will focus on Belgian and Dutch game developers

Christophe De bont

07/04/2021

If COVID-19 is playing by classic game design rules, we’re currently in the midst of facing its third and thus final form. There’s no telling if that’s true or – if it’s the case – when we will land the final shot. In order to account for different scenarios, the organisers of cozy game development event INDIGO, taking place on Friday 25th June, are going hybrid this year.

Apart from a focus on video games created in the Benelux, INDIGO will offer everything we’ve come to expect from the event: a range of inspirational talks aimed at both aspiring and veteran game developers, a broad showcase of promising new video games, and a first class matchmaking tool to forge those sweet, sweet business relations. Tickets are this way.

Confirmed speakers include The Falconeer one-man development army Tomas Sala, Tovertafel creator Hester Le Riche, Aran Koning and Tijmen Tio of Sokpop Collective, and veteran game developer Arjan Brussee, who’s currently at Epic Games. Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements in the coming weeks!

Even more so than other years, INDIGO’s discover showcase is ideal to show off what you’re working on. Selected games will be played by streamers (among them Rami Ismail) on a dedicated stream and developers are invited to jump in on the Q&A with their audience.

You’ll also get a virtual booth in the brand new MeetToMatch event platform to promote your video game and access to the matchmaking tools and talks. Finally, all selected titles will be competing for the coveted INDIGO award.

Join previous Belgian entries like Trifox, Ghost on the Shore or Flotsam and apply here to be part of the showcase until 30th April. Please keep in mind that final showcase builds are due on 14th June and, even without a physical showcase happening, one team member will need to be on location in Utrecht to participate.

Let’s show those Dutchies what the #BelgianGamesIndustry is made off!

Christophe De bont

02/04/2021

Creating video games isn’t easy. Selling them might even be harder. There are more people playing video games now than ever before, but on the flipside it’s never been harder to get your dream noticed in the whirlwind of quality releases. We’ve said this many times before: even the best game ever is bound for failure if nobody knows it exists.

Drumming up support for your title is ever-so important if you decide to brave the storm without publisher support. But there’s so many questions! When do you start building your audience and where can you find them? How do you build a community and reach out to the press (they can be mean!)?

Enter the next game webinar by the lovely people over at Flanders DC, taking place on 27th April at 10 AM. The webinar will be presented by Michiel Verheijdt, Senior Marketing Manager at Good Shepherd Entertainment, a Dutch video game publisher with a heart for quirky indie experiences like Monster Train, The Endless Cylinder, Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, and John Wick Hex. With 20 years of experience in the games industry, he’s in an excellent position to give you pointers on how to survive launching a game on your own and answer all questions you might have on the subject.

The webinar is free for all, but especially relevant for indie studios that have plans to self-publish a video game. Please sign up here and all will be revealed.

While you’re at it, why not take a look at some more articles and tools Flanders DC puts out to help you realise your creative dream. If you decide to sign up with a publisher, it’s nice to know on a basic level what a good publishing agreement looks like (link in Dutch). Taking to Kickstarter? The Crowdfunding Canvas is your friend. Need funds and want to secure a loan? There’s a webinar on that as well. Soak up that knowledge and be inspired to create great stuff!

Type your way across a magical world when full version of Nanotale releases today

Christophe De bont

31/03/2021

Following Sizeable and Black Legend, this week’s #BelgianGamesIndustry release is coming from our friends over at Fishing Cactus. The plat du jour is Nanotale. Their magical typing adventure is leaving Steam Early Access today and is also heading to Google Stadia. Have a look at the release trailer and be prepared to get sucked into a breathtaking world.

We throw around the world magical a lot, but actually there’s something wrong with the heart of magic. As a young archivist, you’ll have to venture out into the wilds and catalog what’s happening to this withering world. Before you’ll be able to figure out a way to heal it, you’ll have to ride your spirit wolf across different environments, embark on quests to make friends and beat various foes.

Every interaction in the world, whether it’s freezing a river so you can get across or launching a fireball at a soon to be grilled enemy is done by typing various words that pop up on the screen. It might take you some time to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, typing your way across the world starts to feel like second nature.

Nanotale has been built over the last year and a half with community feedback in mind. The adventure that rolls off the assembly line later today is the final version that the team envisaged when they set out to make a more ambitious follow-up to their critcally acclaimed typing adventure Epistory. Next to an extra biome and new powers, the full version features improved performance, spectacular cinematics, and high-quality voice-overs.

Google’s certainly here for it, as Nanotale is also joining Epistory on Google Stadia today. To get these versions up to speed, Fishing Cactus counted on the help of our proud member Mantis Games (more on what this team has been up to later this month). And that’s not the only Flemish influence on the game, as the lore and story of Nanotale was co-written by Dagmar Blommaert of our proud member Like Charlie. A true #BelgianGamesIndustry production!

With a greater emphasis on narrative, an even grander world to explore and more exposure on multiple platforms, we hope Nanotale is able to soar even higher than its predecessor. A huge congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this wonderful adventure to life!

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