Oh, look at that. Welcome to the first edition of Patch Notes! Newsletters are unmistakably In These days, rather than succumb to the crippling FOMO (aka “fear of missing out”), we thought we’d join the party.
Patch Notes will be a casual hangout for the cool guys. A dark, dimly lit jazz bar filled with people who “get it.” It’s your favorite breakfast in bed. A sacred space for deep, thoughtful contemplation. Your most dizzying daydream made corporeal. That, okay, is mostly just an excuse for Editor-in-Chief Chris Kerr (bye-bye) to let loose on a Friday and pore over the latest happenings in the video game industry.
We'll be publishing a new edition of Patch Notes every two weeks to keep you in the loop. Inside, you'll find a roundup of the latest news and some headlines you might have missed; a hearty spread of interviews and articles to tickle your taste buds; and a lovingly curated selection of blogs that showcase the brilliance of our expert community.
We think there will be a little something for everyone, so let's get to it.
Travel Man: I went to AMAZE Sheffield and all I got was this new sense of belonging
The other week I joined a cult. It all happened so quickly. One moment I was wandering through a warehouse full of bizarre gadgets on the outskirts of Sheffield. The next, I was surrounded by a group of people intent on imitating the songs of a rhapsodic flamingo. The strange chorus of faces lit only by the pink neon strips that adorned the crumbling brick walls. Later, that same group would use the power of touch to create a link between the mechanical world and our physical forms. This is AMAZE PartyIt's magical.
The self-proclaimed “International Games and Playful Media Festival” usually takes place in Berlin over four days, but has come to the UK for a one-day evening with a series of experimental games installations, rapid-fire “Hyper Talks” touching on topics such as accessible design and generative AI (Read our coverage here) and a lively warehouse rave that continued into the early hours of the morning.
The event is split into a daytime and evening program. The daytime is more laid-back, allowing attendees to browse the installations at their leisure, take part in workshops, and chat with their peers. There was even a barbecue, although we’re not entirely sure if that’s part of the standard offering (it definitely should be).
From left to right: AMAZE attendees playing Crashboard, Between and Hyper Wobbler
The evening slalom is where AMAZE really shines. After a heartfelt opening speech by organizer Thorstenn Wiedmann and an icebreaker with that singing flamingo we mentioned earlier, we transition into a hilarious track Hyper Talk that is ridiculous and brilliant in equal measure.
The speakers are introduced to shouts of “hyper, hyper” from a crowd who have been asked to recite those sacred words (everyone says hello to Scooter) whenever they burst onto the screen. The conversations oscillate between the introspective and the absurd. We quickly move from a discussion of the human touch as a game mechanic to a discussion of the iconic board game Dream Phone. There is wisdom in both. Then, the exhibition floor opens up. What was once a cold space for small talk becomes an electric hive of activity.
A huge group of participants quickly breaks off to play a colossal game of Bot partyan interactive alt ctrl experience that asks players to help small robots communicate by interlocking their limbs. I watch in silent amazement as people (many of whom I assume were previously strangers) join together in a giant prayer circle to merge with their mechanical counterparts.
Everywhere you look, you'll find the same thing. Friends and strangers holding hands and laughing as they tackle experimental puzzles. Between. Amused spectators encourage those who have chosen to surf (literally) the World Wide Web in Safety tabletLaughter erupts from a crowd playing a completely deranged version of Group BeastsEvery experience seems designed to inspire chaos and camaraderie.
AMAZE is so wonderfully refreshing because it eschews conventional industry networking events, which too often prioritise those with a penchant for bars and booze (though, of course, you can grab a pint here if that’s your thing). I often find those spaces exclusive and impenetrable. Here, in this warehouse filled with tactile and unusual gaming experiences, people are encouraged to get close and really engage. Bonding over their shared pursuit of a high score or the fact that they were sliding across the floor together, interconnected digits, just seconds ago.
There’s something deeply reassuring about going to an event that champions silliness and celebrates unconventional ideas. The industry could probably use a few more events like AMAZE, and after stepping foot in one a couple of weeks ago, I highly recommend everyone do the same.
P.S. AMAZE is Host a “digital playground” event at Gamescom 2024so check it out if you're going to Cologne next week.
Status Report: The Headlines That Matter
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Krafton Acquires Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush Franchise from Microsoft // The industry was ready to hand over a big slice of the pie to Japanese studio Tango Gameworks after it was unceremoniously shut down by Xbox despite being praised by its parent company for its success. Race for high fidelityThis story, however, had one final twist. Korean publisher Krafton (guardian of the PUBG franchise) stepped in to save the day after purchasing both Tango and the Hi-Fi Rush franchise from Microsoft. According to the game fileKrafton has framed the deal as an “acqui-hire” because he wants to “inherit the entire development team.” It’s a rare slice of positive news amid a relentless wave of layoffs and closures. We’ll take it.
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Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant Offers $15,000 to 'Thinking' Game Developers // If you're a puzzle game developer looking for funding, you might want to check out this grant from Bonfire Peaks AND Sokobond Espresso developer Draknek. The studio is looking to give away six no-strings-attached grants worth $15,000 to creators from underrepresented backgrounds. The company has a generous “if in doubt, apply” policy when it comes to applications, so if you’re on the fence about eligibility, it’s probably worth a shot. You can find a complete FAQ hereThe deadline for applications is October 7, 2024.
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Foretold Studios Fails to Pay Salaries, Plunging Some Workers Into Debt // Here's a cautionary tale. We recently spoke with several developers of Tollan Universe producer Foretold Studios claiming the company owes them thousands of dollars in missed salary payments dating back to 2023. On the outside, the studio appears to be in good health, with management attending major events like GDC 2024 and OTK Games Expo, and recently announcing another entry in its Tollan franchise (despite struggling to bring a single project to market). CEO Michael Kuvshynov confirmed that the studio has failed to pay some salaries, but hinted that he has been transparent with employees from the start. Our sources disagree. After our story ran, we pressed Kuvshynov for more information, but were met with radio silence. Curiously, the CEO agreed to a Zoom interview before publication, but has now disappeared into the ether.
Feature Creep: Originals and Interviews for the Discerning Reader
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What the hell is Valve doing with these informal Deadlock NDAs? // Game Developer Editor-in-Chief Bryant Francis examines the chaos surrounding the surprising failure to launch Valve's in-development shooter Stallwhich attracted over 20,000 concurrent users despite being a seemingly super secret project and got The Verge in hot water with some angry souls for *checking notes* covering a major company's video game project. Block yourselves for this.
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“This Is Just a Cycle of Death”: No More Robots Gets Honest About the State of Independent Publishing // Sometimes it’s important to speak the hard truths out loud. Just ask No More Robots founder Mike Rose, who told me last week that the independent publishing industry is essentially “fucked.” Assessing the state of the business after seven years at the helm, Rose explained why “surviving until 2025” is a dangerous mistake, revealed what exactly publishers are looking for in the current market (projects that are either “fucking cheap or expensive as hell”), and highlighted why pessimism and sustainability go hand in hand.
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Eliminate textures to create a visual bridge between Hyper Light Breaker and its predecessor // How do you turn a 2D indie darling into a 3D roguelike? That is the question. Hyper light switch Developer Heart Machine has been tackling the challenge of creating a sequel to the acclaimed 2016 adventure Hyper Light Drifter. You can click the link above for a comprehensive answer, which explores notions like “low-frequency” character design and intentional detail.
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Excerpt from the book: Great games need great leaders // In this fragment from Great Games Need Great Leaders: Multiclassing to Lead Game Development Teams by Matthew John Dyet, the author brings together “the insights and perspectives of numerous past and present video game industry leaders and professionals to form a clear picture of how leadership works in a video game development studio.”