DreamFeel

The most requested feature of the internet returns from hiatus! ;)

Corporate Climber

Pixeljam released this flash game last month. Relive the life of a man as he climbs the corporate ladder. Each level sees you get a slightly better job, from mailman to electrician, and to boardroom executive as you move up each floor of the company.

The hit detection and the gameplay is a bit messy, and death is frequent but it's saved by the charming visuals, constant change and the always near satisfaction of promotion! The point when you become CEO and look back on your life's accomplishes and sins, and whether to redeem yourself or try and take hell (!) is a high point.

Tiny Hawk 

Originally created by Pekka Kujansu in 48 hours for Ludum Dare, this flash version features improved graphics, sound and levels.

Reminiscentof Wonder Boy, this is a really excellent little game. For something so simple, the gameplay is tight and satisfying, and the music really adds to the atmosphere.

Mountain Maniac Xmas

To finish a Christmas-sy game to get you in the spirit!

Pixeljam creators of Corporate Climber as well as the original Mountain Maniac, have created this festive update. As before slam huge boulders down the mountain like a pinball, and create as much havoc as possible. In between stages you'll be assailed eves, reindeer, and gingerbread men!

From Robert Wyatt, of Soft Machine fame and a string of fantastic solo albums from the 70's through to an impending release this year, this is the opening track of 2007's Comicopera. An incredible slow boil of yearning.

After a month's absence (I can only hope your heart has grown fonder), I return bearing great news (and more regular updates). Poster and more info after the jump!

Click to read more ...

Well, here's the first glimpse of the next League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from Messrs. Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill: the wonderfully florid 1960's cover.

"Irish poets, learn your trade,
Sing whatever is well made,"

Enjoy words.

Flock Together

This the creation of the titular John from Armor Games, where he has created many many other titles including the infamous Achievement Unlocked.

Flock Together is a very simple game, but a very unique one. You control a little girl who wants to go as high as possible to recover her sheepie friend. You do this by tieing yourself to different birds, shooting out ropes to grab them. A simple economy, where you can sell birds and buy more ropes to gain a greater collection of avarian forms. More & bigger birds, means you can go faster and higher.

The movement mechanics are floaty and gentle, but always pleasing, and the game can become quite tricky as you try desperately to catch the last few eagles. It reminds me of a few games with similar conceits such as 'Beluah & the Hundred Birds'.

Very strong concept, atmosphere and execution. 'Fun'.

Roulette

Created by Peter Lu, this is a very simple, but powerful game. All you can do is push space, and hope.

It probably doesn't justify the file size, but it's interesting what a difference a real person (read: live action actor) can have on your experience. And if I wonder if the distorted, artifacted graphics are done on purpose. Regardless, they help give the game a very strange atmosphere.

Definitely play a few times.

L'Abbaye des Morts

Developed by Locomalito, two things have been said frequently about this game:

One: Finally we have a game about the persecution of the Cathars in medieval France.

Two: Spectrum, spectrum, spectrum, spectrum.

I love this. The visuals, animation, sound, even the gameplay is so strongly reminiscent of those early Sinclair Spectrum platformers, except with a more modern, less cruel take on the design. Opening with a memorable simple chase, and then the banging door, it's the little touches that make it special. As an aesthetic, it's bold and wholly unique to videogames; we should reclaim these lost styles! 

I only wish they went farther in updating it and included a quick save feature. Although it's probably only an hour or two long, I'll likely never go back to it.

If I have one complaint; where's the Speccy colour-clashing!?

Sufjan Stevens returns with his first full length album in 5 years, 'The Age of Adz', on October 12.

Best known for baroque pop/indie folk classic 'Illinois', and it's sister 'Michigan', this album initially seems like an enormous (and enormously interesting) left-turn. However, it might not be so much of a shock to those familiar with his early electronic experiments, Enjoy Your Rabbit, and his extraordinary recent output, in particular the sprawling, foreboding 'You Are the Blood' released on the 'Dark Was the Night' compilation, and his confident orchestral/electronic suite 'The BQE' (Boston-Queens-Expressway).

In an age where it shows good taste to show constraint, Sufjan holds nothing back. This is an aural assault. Combining his signature knack for melody, song structure, his predilection for strings and wide instrumentation, with lots, and lots, of electronic sounds and audio manipulation, he has achieved something new. He has opened the window to a whole new field of influence, from Kraftwerk to Nancarrow to Aphex Twin; the breadth of styles, and tones on this record is unbelievable at times.

Also, paradoxically, this just might be Sufjan's most honest record yet; the heart-felt lyrics provide stark contrast to the grand music swelling everywhere. Nowhere, is this better typified than in the closing 25 minute song, "Impossible Soul". Surely taking lessons from his orchestral suite, this is a complex structure but still a very accessible and free flowing creation. Recurring lyrical motifs play over an ever-changing sea of sound and feeling. At one point, Stevens auto-tunes his vocals, possibly a playful jab at his own inability to express any truth, to rise above the fake and disposable. In the end, after a brief segment of harsh sounds, the noise all fades away, and we are left with Sufjan, and his banjo, alone.

"Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure."

I imagine those who are a fan of the more stripped-down, and straight froward 'Seven Swans' Sufjan might not be bowled over by this exhausting release, and indeed critical reaction is already highly polarized. One is tempted to make comparisons with Radiohead's Kid A, in delivering something radical the audience wasn't expecting, nor even wanted. This is an artis trying to create something new, and should be applauded.

Probably the best thing I've heard all year, and an album I can only see growing, and growing in stature. In the age of mp3, it's a brave move to make such a bold, singular and demanding statement. This is not music of of the 20th century. This is not an artist taking himself too seriously. This is not disposable.

Here's the penultimate track for your pleasure:

"I'm not fucking around."